Skip to main content

Millennials at Work, Are We the Problem?





So you just started your new job; or your first job and you spent a while –say weeks- working but you feel like there is something missing? You’re working and you’re happy; however, you still feel like you might want to quit or give it up? You feel like “this is not what you’re meant for” or “you’re not making an impact”… you might have been there yourself, if not, then someone you know.

So what does it actually mean to “make an impact”? What is it about millennials that makes dealing with workplaces so different? How are they perceived in the workplace and are they wrong with the way of acting towards working life? 

This is exactly what Simon Sinek, Optimist, speaker and author of “Start with why”, discussed in one of his interviews. You can watch the discussion here: https://goo.gl/rYFVMG

The thing about millennials that makes them never comfortable with where they are or what they are doing is tied to multiple different factors, and most of them are not even their fault, based on Sinek’s discussion. However, they deserve to know the reasons keeping them from being happy with what they’re currently doing, and even keeping them from noticing achievements. Sinek called those factors; “missing pieces” that millennials today feel affected by. The first one being parenting, the way this generation is brought up in general, such as, getting an A in school not because it’s earned, but because someone’s mother came to school and fought with a teacher so that they can get it. Being told they are special, that they are great, nearly all the time, without us trying hard or doing something special, they are just brought up thinking that they are. Up until being done with college, they are receiving awards and recognition that is not deserved just because there is an ability to get it easy.  



The second factor or ‘missing piece’ that affecting behavior and emotion is technology; getting everything so easy, and through technology, millennials do not need to work hard to do anything, for example, the basic human interaction that they are now less capable of properly achieving. Being kept away from having ‘deep, meaningful relationships’ because of technology, everything is accessible today throughout one single piece of device; smartphones. There are filters on everything, people seem  happy while they are not, they seem to know everything while they actually don’t; escaping stress by burying themselves in their phones, and scrolling through social media pages where they receive temporary feelings of happiness and relief. With this in mind, comes the third factor or ‘missing piece’ that is, impatience. Millennials are receiving instant gratification on nearly everything they please; there are even dating apps now! Even the basic ways of creating or starting a relationship is now only a swipe of a finger away. However, this does not, and will never apply on things such as meaningful, deep human relationships, life achievements and job fulfillment, these are things people need to learn how to work for and earn. These are things that people create.   


On the bright side - somehow - those ‘missing pieces’ that are hindering millennials are not really a fault of their own, Sinek explains, they are a result of the environment they are living in and the changes occurring around them. But does that mean that they shall go with the flow saying;” it is the environment that made us the way we are now.” Or shall they fight to create a better version of themselves so they can prevail? 



“Before thinking of ‘making an impact’ think of it this way; what you want to achieve is the summit, and to reach that summit, there is a mountain you have to climb first. If you keep looking at the summit instead of searching for ways to better climb the mountain, you will fall off.” (Simon Sinek, InsideQuest Interview, 2016) And what better way to climb a mountain would it be than to let go of distractions, work hard to create a deep connection with other people, and help others in need so that they would lift you up as well and reach that summit. 


It isn't the generations’ fault, but it is their responsibility to create a better version of themselves, and thus create a better environment for them and for others as well.


Thank you for reading. If you liked this article, share it with your friends! You can also share your opinion about millennials in the workplace in the comments below...


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Difficult Times.. A Diary

Interesting story; I have been writing something to be shared, basically writing what I was doing to handle the stressful time, and having to be locked down at home. I was writing with so much excitement to share this with others, that maybe someone can be inspired and have more hope in each day. I realized that afterwards, my writings of how I was feeling week by week were changing greatly, so I kept on writing. Here’s how the writings looked like week by week. Week 1   What to do during this time? Reflect! Slow down, and reflect; on everything. What I did personally was that I decided to take out a pen and my favorite notebook and write down what I wanted to do every day during the time I will be spending at home. I found out so many things I wanted to do! Eventually, but not immediately. I started with writing down some form of a schedule; I arranged my work time, time for working out at home, time to read and reflect, or just watch something I like. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pandemic! But Don't Panic, Reflect..

I know you’re scared, and worried, and anxious. And it is all totally understandable. What is happening, it does make sense to everyone. We are in a time where nothing is clear, but all that we know for sure that this is a time of change. All our lives are a time of constant change.   If anything is certain, and if anything does not change, that will be change itself. And change doesn’t always look appealing. Change comes in many ways and forms. However; the main point here is to know that, this time of change isn’t intended to be evil, it is not evil at all. I know this may sound crazy to some but on the contrary, it isn’t at all. It is exactly what is taking place due to humanity’s behaviors. The laws of nature are only taking their part and responding to our actions, to our choices, to what we choose to do every day collectively as humanity, to what we set as a priority, what we chose to believe in and what we chose to ignore and keep away. We can’t escape reality...
Post a Comment
Read more

Don't Panic, Reflect.. What's Happening?

In order not to panic, and reflect. We need to clear our minds and adjust ourselves to think more. And the more we listen to our thoughts and feelings the more we will be asking the right questions, and hopefully finding meaningful answers to them that shall give us peace. From my modest perspective, I believe the first logical question, and the one I tend to see very often is; What is happening? A change, a big change.  A difficult time that seems to present danger to people, but is this danger something that we were not expecting? Is it really out of the blue, and no clues or hints were seen before? Were we not aware of our actions, as human beings, collectively? What have we been doing to the environment? To nature? To animals? To other human beings? Our own families? Our own people?  What choices have we been making over the past years? It wouldn’t be wrong to say that we brought it upon ourselves, but that does not mean we are guilty and worthy of pu...
Post a Comment
Read more