What Makes Millennials Happy at Work?

Millennials now represent the majority of the workforce, outnumbering Gen X by 1%, according to a recent survey, so everyone is paying attention to the needs of this generation and what keeps them happy at work. Millennials, defined as people who were born after 1981, has had its share of negative publicity, but there are also many facts that may surprise you about this group.

Whether you're a millennial, work alongside a millennial, or manage a millennial, it's important to understand what makes them tick, so that you can tailor your workplace environment to help them succeed.

Follow these 7 tips and you'll be well on the way to enabling your millennial colleagues to be successful:

1. Give recognition early and often. Millennials are more accustomed to frequent social gratification than Gen X because they grew up with the internet - think Facebook likes and Instagram followers. Regularly give them praise in the workplace because if not, they'll think something is wrong.
2. Don't play the experience card on them. Millennials may be smart, they may be hard-working, but the one thing they lack is deep experience. So when someone says, "I have 25+ years of experience in blah blah blah," millennials are more likely to roll their eyes than take it at face value. Why? Because the world has changed a lot in 25 years, so that experience may not be relevant anymore, but even if it were, millennials can't compete with that. So if you want to make a friend, don't play that card.
3. Trust them with big projects. The best way to learn is to do. Millennials are really good at learning because they grew up with things that didn't come with a manual; think iPhones, laptops and other devices. Millennials learn the same way in the workplace. Rather than read through a handbook, they'd rather just start doing something and try to figure it out on the fly. The next time you give your millennial a big project, and see them tackle it without much of a gameplan, don't be alarmed. This is what they're used to doing.
4. Sponsor offsite work outings and activities. Many millennials value community in the workplace, because for many, their work friends are their closest friends. This group is less likely to have a family, so while Gen X has to go home to tuck the kids in, millennials would rather spend time grabbing a beer with a colleague. If you want millennials to be happy, don't skimp on the company softball team or letting them expense drinks on a Thursday evening. Give them many opportunities to bond with coworkers.
5. Don't take them for granted. This might go without saying, but the reason I'm stressing this is because social media has made it easier than ever to find a new job. So don't assume your talented millennial is going to stick around just because you hand them a paycheck. Earn your keep, otherwise, it's easy for them to find somewhere that values them more.
6. Encourage them to use LinkedIn & other social media. Some millennials have never had to work in a world without LinkedIn and Twitter. They've probably also never used a fax machine. So if your social media policies are strict, millennials are less likely to understand the rationale because they're not accustomed to anything else but sharing on social media.
7. Be flexible with schedules. Millennials are less likely to be settled down than previous generations - they're less likely to have kids, which means more flexible travel schedules. So don't be surprised if a millennial colleague needs to work remotely for a day because they went up for a ski trip one day early. They are used to working remotely and will still get the work done, even if they're out of the office.

The most important thing is to empathize with millennial colleagues. Understand that they grew up in a different time, and are in a different stage of their lives (and careers). But they can be some of the top performers at your company if you understand what makes them "swipe right."

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