Our generation’s been called a lot of things: whiny, self-absorbed, and the group that Gen X’ers and Baby Boomer just can’t seem to “get”. This is extremely interesting to me, because Generation Y, the Millennials, are not that much different from Baby Boomers in their idealism.
All we really want is to live a fulfilling life in the world that our predecessors have left us–so we’ve begun to shape it in ways that will allow us to do so. If raising our voices to better the world we live in equates to “whiny”, and “self-absorbed”, well… I guess I’m happy to fit that bill, personally.
The good thing is that we actually are making change happen, particularly in the workforce.
Executives are ditching certain formalities such as dress-code (who wants to spend money on an expensive suit anyway?), realizing that talent and expertise aren’t summed up by how well you dress, but rather by the merit of your actions.
Robert Todd of ?WHAT IF! Innovation even suggests that “companies with the most liberal approach to workplace attire are some of the most innovative.”
It’s funny to think about how much power we have as a generation to create change.
Now that we’re stepping into the workplace, we’re coming in with gusto, new values and attitudes, and sharp skills (some would argue that this country’s huge skills gap is evidence against this, but I’d argue that Millennials are the ones solving that problem, not creating it).
Where Gen X’er’s originally had to adapt to the Baby Boomer’s cultural “norm” for workplace validation, now they are finding that they have to adapt to the new horde of Millennial’s set of standards, and they reach far beyond dress code.
What studies have found is that we’re looking for three basic things in the workplace: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Once we achieve those three elements, we’re intrinsically motivated and happy enough to do almost anything, both emotions that tend to be the driving factors in most successful companies’ growth nowadays.
Think about it. Millennials don’t want a boss barking orders at us all day, or asking why we forgot to put the new cover sheet on our TPS reports. We don’t want to sit silently, supervised hawk-eye style from 9 to 5.
We’re autonomous in every other part of our lives because we can do almost anything from anywhere now with smartphones and laptops–so why shouldn’t work be the same?
Our desire for a good balance between our outside-of-work and at-work lives has done away with the antiquated image of the ‘good ‘ol company man’, and more individuals have secured work-from-home or flexible-schedule positions.
This doesn’t indicate that we’re lazy, however, or that we don’t want to work. Not at all.
We want to kick ass at what we do.
I mean, honestly, when was the last time you wanted to do anything that you sucked at? Human nature is to want to be good at something and achieve mastery in whatever that is–which is why you see Millennials so antsy to get promotions, raises, all of that. We want to see progress, and we want to see it frequently. A lot of us quit and look for other jobs when we feel stagnant, and who can blame us?
Now these first two puzzle pieces don’t mean much without the last one: purpose.
Without agreeing with “why” we’re doing something, we generally don’t want to do it.
Sure, everybody has to make money, that’s why we all have jobs. But do you think companies that exist seemingly solely for the benefit of making the CEO some cash are the types of companies that are growing?
No, of course not, because we’d rather support companies that place importance on going green, giving back, and ultimately making a conscious effort to do good in society.
This updated focus on company culture has been a huge point of study for many businesses, and the good news is that they’re listening.
More and more companies are respectful of and accommodating to an employee’s desire to lead an active “out-of-work” life. More and more companies are also dedicated to giving back to society in one way or another. All of this, simply because we’ve demanded it.
We’re called “Generation Me” for a number of reasons, but one of them is that we’re tired of companies with workplaces that don’t treat us how we feel we should be treated. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. A job without autonomy, mastery, and purpose, isn’t a job that any of us want to work at. Even Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers can understand that.
So I say to you: keep being picky, and keep demanding change.
As long as we keep pushing for value and purpose from our jobs, together, we can make the workforce a better place.
About the author: Andrew Heikkila is a writer, artist, and entrepreneur from Boise, Idaho. Follow him on Twitter @andyo_thehammer.
Other stuff you might like:
- Generation Y Redefines Success
- How To Be Rich in Your Twenties
- The 5 Most Valuable Lessons Grad School Taught Me
- Pursue a Lifestyle, Not a Job
- Why It’s Okay to Be Excited About the Awesome Stuff You’re Doing
- Why We Need to Get Over Our Fear of Rejection
- Don’t Wait, Be Happy Now
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I love your perspective! Great post!
Thank you for reading Mikayla!
I really think our generation is tapping into creativity. Set less formal and more creative free thinkers!
I think that the object-based way that kids interact with computers nowadays (ipad and android apps, touch, drag, swipe, etc.) is going to really change things, even for us innovators nowadays. Digital natives that grew up actually manipulating what was on screens with their hands…. I can only imagine how Tony Stark/Iron Man the future is going to get. Here’s a toast to a future full of holograms! ha
I hope your generation keeps making those changes and making the workforce better for my kids. I think you’re doing a great job so far. 🙂
I hope so too 🙂 Thanks for reading
Great post. I definitely needed to read this. I believe its true, generation y tends to get antsy when they feel stuck. I totally agree with this article.
Thank you for reading Leana Jay, I’m glad that you could glean some meaning from this article. Keep up the good work over at Hello Juggy, I’m loving the photography 🙂
This is a great perspective – we get such a bad wrap! I’m biased as a millennial but I think we are making a huge difference for the better!
I agree Kate 🙂 thank you for reading
I think Generation Me is making great strides in the future for the workplace and although it is not a bad thing. Sometimes I do feel there is a place where there could be a little less me. Sometimes when I was in the work force there was a huge push for being accommodating to millennials where in my line of work there was no room for “me” only room for “us”.
I do think both of the current generations have some learning and listening to do.
I absolutely see where you’re coming from–Gen X being sandwiched between 75 million boomers and another 75 million gen y’ers isn’t anything you ever asked for… and while I’ve read a bunch of great “in defense of” articles on Millennials, I’ve still witnessed some of the ‘childish’ vanity that’s ravenously affected many in my generation. We’re not without fault… but I think that the point you make is great. There’s no progression for either generation unless we both work to better our positions symbiotically. Thanks for reading, Dina.
I loved this point “It’s funny to think about how much power we have as a generation to create change.” — it’s so true! We really do have a lot of power. Eventually those newcomers with ideas for change will be the ones calling shots, so we need to acknowledge that and act accordingly.
I worked at a lousy job which didn’t care about its employees at all, and was miserable. For 8 years I dreaded work every day, even on days off. I never want to go back to that, and I don’t think anyone else does, either from the sound of this post.
It’s really hard to navigate between having a job that pays well, especially in a market where those jobs are hard to find, and having a job that you like. Personally, I don’t think anybody should be spending the majority of their lives (40 hours a week at least, and even on days off, like you said) doing anything that makes them unhappy/stresses them out… it’s unhealthy. Happiness is much more important than some give credit for.
I’m glad you got out of that job though and are embracing the power that you have to change things : ) thanks for reading.
I feel like when people think millennials, they think “entitled”. It’s so nice to hear some positive things said about us millennials. I appreciate you sharing this.
Well I appreciate you reading this! I think it’s funny how much time and research goes into “understanding Millennials”, especially when you look at marketing perspectives, and yet I feel like we’re not well understood by outside generations at all :-/ hopefully we can change that
I absolutely love this post. I can especially relate to the work attire! I think each generation brings a new wave of fresh ideas and changes.
Thank you for the kind words Jaclyn–I agree and disagree with you! Every generation definitely does bring a new wave of fresh ideas and changes, but there’s this interesting theory about “generational cycles” by Strauss & Howe. They talk about 4 distinct types of generations, the idealist (baby boomers), the reactive (gen x), the civic (gen y), and the artist (gen z) generations. It’s interesting to hear their perspective on how social issues and drivers repeat themselves, and then to kind of pick apart the weak points and the things that make our generation completely different than any prior (such as the completely global scale of our issues and the ability to be affected by them from half a world away). It’s not light reading, but it is interesting haha
Thank you all for the kind words 🙂 sorry that I’d not responded to you all sooner!
I think my desire to be the best is what moved me to start my own business. I tried to fit in the system. I tried to make good and positive change to better the world and company. I tried to fake it until I made it. All of these things took energy. A lot of energy and yet nothing changed. I could have made a lot more money if I would have shut my mouth but I couldn’t. Incredible things happen when you have the opportunity to step out and put your full energy and effort into something you love! Keep it up!
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