A Changing Workforce: Managing Millennials

Managing Millennials

According to Berman et al. (2013), one of the major trends occurring in the workforce is the amount of generations that human resource managers are managing. Each generation requires a separate set of managerial skills that are necessary in order to bring out the best in individuals that compose these various generations. The link above provides human resource managers with a few tips on how to manage individuals in the Millennial generation and how to incorporate their various perspectives into the workplace.

Historically, when younger individuals enter the workforce, there is a level of animosity between generations where individuals see the differences in generations as a threat to work place productivity and cohesiveness.  Susan M. Heathfield, the author of , " 11 Tips For Handling Millennials  " give human resource managers insight on how to turn what would be tension causing differences into ways that bring out the most productivity in Millennials by highlighting and paying attention to their best assets such as their technological savvy ways and their need for a work-life balance, which can in turn, increase work productivity as well as decrease workforce turnover rates.

Berman et al. (2013) refers to two major societal challenges now under way: Rapidly expanding technologies, and the demand for human competency. Understanding the best practices that will bring out the best in each generation in the key to combatting these challenges. Tapping into the minds of the Millennial generation is imperative to making sure that ones company is keeping up with the times due to the fact that, that generation is more inclined to incorporate technology in the workforce be it though meetings held via Skype, making online presentations on Prezi or networking through LinkedIn. In addition, Berman et al. ( 2013) also notes that Millennials are replacing older generations at a steady pace, which is more of a reason for human resource managers to understand how this generation operates. Learning the ins and outs of every generation, not just those of the Millennial generation is a great way to increase human competency, which will then improve overall work place productivity.