IBM Study: The Real Story Behind Millennials in the Workplace

The results of the global, multigenerational study “Myths, Exaggerations and Uncomfortable Truths” found that the fundamental distinction between Millennials and older employees is their digital proficiency, which comes from growing up immersed in a digital world. But, for things like career goals, employee engagement, preferred leadership styles and recognition, the study shows that Millennials share many of the same attitudes as Gen X and Baby Boomer employees.

By 2020, Millennials will be approximately 50 percent of the U.S. workforce (1). So within the next five years, Millennials will wield increasing influence over organizations’ decisions, move in to leadership roles and basically take over the workforce.

Today’s business leaders need to begin planning for this shift by creating a workplace environment that will maximize the Millennial generation’s unique strengths. To do so, they first need to separate fact from fiction on what Millennial employees are really all about. Helpfully, the IBM Institute for Business Value examined five commonly held beliefs about Millennials and busted them like the myths they are.

Myth 1: Millennials’ career goals and expectations are different from their elders (i.e. unrealistic).

As it turns out, Millennials want financial security and a diverse workplace just as much as their older colleagues.

Myth 2: Millennials need endless praise and think everyone should get a trophy.

Millennials’ idea of a perfect boss isn’t someone who pats them on the back. They’re looking for an ethical and fair boss who shares information. Thirty-five percent of Boomers and Millennials listed this as the top quality they seek in a boss. Last on the priority list for Millennials? A boss who asks for their input.

Funny enough, it’s Gen X employees, not Millennials, who are more likely to think everyone on a successful team should be rewarded. 64 percent of Gen Xers agreed with this statement compared to 55 percent of Millennials. Project much Gen X?

Myth 3: Millennials are digital addicts with no boundaries between work and play

Millennials are less likely than older generations to use their personal social media accounts for business purposes. Twenty-seven percent of Millennials never do so -- compared to only 7 percent of Boomers. Millennials enter the workforce with a strong social presence and personal social media strategy. They know what they want to communicate, where they want to share it and how it best suits their audience. Like Taylor Swift.

Myth 4: Millennials can’t make a decision without crowdsourcing.

Millennials value others’ input, but are no more likely to seek advice when making work decisions than Gen X. And, even though they think gaining consensus is important, more than fifty percent of Millennials believe that their leaders are most qualified to make business decisions.

Myth 5: Millennials are more likely to jump ship if a job doesn’t fulfill their passions.

Millennials change jobs for the same reasons other generations do, and they are no more likely than older colleagues to leave a job to follow their passion. In fact, Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are all two times more likely to leave a job to enter the fast lane – i.e. to make more money and work in a more innovative environment -- than any other reason, including saving the world.

So what’s an employer to do?

Employers can’t rely on generational stereotypes when planning and serving their workforce. They need robust, nuanced talent strategies and analytics to better understand employees as individuals to make the most of their skills.

According to the IBV, applying workforce analytics can help executives uncover previously hidden patterns of employee actions, enabling HR and business leaders to make smarter, more effective decisions, and ultimately improve business results (2). IBM works with companies around the world and across industries to help implement best practices for millennial engagement and workforce analytics.

For the multigenerational study, the IBV surveyed nearly 1,800 employees from organizations of all sizes, across 12 countries. Additionally, research was conducted though a Tweetchat, group discussions and one-on-one interviews.

Now it’s your turn. Let’s compare notes on what we all have in common at work. Show us the way you work... share your thoughts through social networks like Twitter, Instagram, Vine or Facebook. Please use the hashtag #TheWayWeWork and share a photo/video of yourself that explains how you get work done and what you love the most about your work.

Access the full Millennial Study findings at https://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/gbs/thoughtleadership/millennialworkplace/

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Join the conversation #TheWayWeWork

More information about the IBM Institute for Business Value can be found here.

Download the IBM IBV app on your Android or iOS tablet.

1. Maximizing Millennials in the Workplace
2. IBM Institute for Business Value, “Unlock the People Equation”