Some thoughts I'd like to share about the current state of the millennial workforce after watching Millennials in the Workforce, A Generation of Weakness by Simon Sinek.
The Background
In Millennials in the Workforce, A Generation of Weakness, Simon Sinek provides his opinion on the current state of the millennial generation and the effects that millennials have had on the American workforce. Through the use of illustrations and data-driven speech, Sinek is able to portray his main ideas about why millennials have come to act the way they do. His overarching opinion is that it all stems from the generation before millennials and how they are actually at fault for the attitudes, beliefs, and personality traits that are common amongst millennials today.
In support of his opinion about how parents are at fault, he also mentions how other factors such as technology, impatience and the overall environment have attributed to millennials having the lowest self-esteem and self-image in history.
The Problems
Two of his main points were very convincing to me.
Right off the bat, Sinek mentions how millennials entitlement seems to play a major role in their ability to perform jobs well in today’s work environment. Their sense of entitlement is most likely attributed to the parents explaining to their children that “they can have whatever they want in life” and that “they are special”. Because of this, millennials have grown up thinking that they are special and that they deserve a type of treatment or reward for behaviors that would not be rewarded in prior generations.
I agree with Sinek on this point because it logically explains the reasoning behind the severe disconnect between members of the millennial generation, like myself, and our parents and grandparents.
In addition, Sinek describes how social media and cell phones that were introduced to millennials at a young age have been detrimental to their development and confidence. He starts by comparing the dopamine release that is felt from getting social media notifications to the same feeling that is felt by alcoholics when they are drinking. The increased pressure on millennials to live up to the standards set by social media requires them to seek out ways to alleviate the stress such as “faking” confidence on social media and relying on drugs or alcohol.
How We Might Fix It
These major themes of millennials having low self-esteem and self-confidence have been a detriment to their ability to work as hard as prior generations. To better integrate millennials into today’s workforce, I think companies should work to improve their reward based incentive structures and increase the ability of new-hires to share opinions. While this might not be the way that things have been done in prior years, it would help foster an environment that would prove to be welcoming to millennials by allowing their confidence in themselves and the firm to grow tremendously within a short time of them starting. This will serve the firm’s best interest because with increased confidence in themselves and their work, they will tend to work harder to achieve the firm’s objectives.
What I've Concluded
I tend to agree with Sinek on most of his opinions due to his substantial amount of evidence and accurate portrayal of real-life scenarios. As someone dubbed as a millennial, it’s important to both hope for change in the working environment, while also being able to realize that I need to be more patient in waiting for my moment of impact in the world.
I offered my perspective of what changes could potentially be beneficial to help millennials in the workforce in the prior paragraphs, but I can’t say that I place all of the blame on the employers. It’s up to our generation of millennials to develop thicker skin, patience, perseverance, and perspective. Without being able to recognize the faults of our own, we will continue to struggle through our careers unhappily while waiting on our “moment of impact” to fall into our hands.
Vin
Sources: After Skool, Youtube, www.simonsinek.com
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