FASH-419 Current Trends and Forecasting Professor Anthony Miller Catherine Batres Winter 2017
Simon Sinek : Millennials in the Workplace BY CATHERINE BATRES
There are many factors in understanding Millennials in the workplace. Simon Sinek dives into these factors and what they mean for the workplace.
NEW YORK, United States - Millennials are at the center of many of the conversations and studies happening now-a-days. Whether it is how we can market to them or how to deal with them, they are a hot button topic. British/ American author, motivational speaker and marketing consultant, Simon Sinek recently shared his thoughts on Millennials in the Workplace. After being asked numerous times about dealing with Millennials in the workplace, he decided to look for an answer. To explain his reasoning he introduced some factors which included different parenting styles, technology, impatience and the corporate work environment. Millennial is defined as an individual who reached adulthood around the turn of the 21st century. Having been raised under the mantra “follow your dreams” and being told they were special, they tend to be confident. This confidence while known as a positive trait has made other generations to see them as entitled and narcissistic. The abundance of confidence and optimism as they enter adulthood with unrealistic expectations. Simon Sinek, refers to the “failed parenting strategies” to explain why and how this state of mind happened. The generation of participation awards, praise and being told they were special ultimately would produced a generation with shattered self esteem. Growing up with electronics and a socially networked world, Millennials depend on the internet to learn, to entertain and to communicate. The relationship that they are building online and with their technology is overshadowing and crippling their human relationships. In a world where everyone is looking for the next big thing, creating meaningful relationships is especially difficult. As of 2012, only 19 percent of Millennials said that, generally others can be trusted. Sinek also compares the addiction to technology to the commonly known addictions such as alcohol, drugs, and gambling. When we hear our phone ring, a shot of dopamine runs through our bodies making us experience a sense of joy/happiness. This feeling is addictive and is the same feeling that addicts have when they smoke, drink, or gamble. The imbalance between technology and human interactions is crippling this already fragile generation. Instant gratification seems to be the driving force of the Millennials. Living in a fast pace world, Millennials have the expectations of “we want quick results, and we want them now”. This state of mind has plagued the generation with impatience. Sinek states that job satisfaction and strong relationships do not happen instantly, and Millennials must learn patience’s in order to achieve joy and happiness. Sinek closes the talk by addressing how the corporate environment is effecting Millennials. The agendas of Corporate America focus on the numbers and short term gains. As Millennials are entering the workplace they are feeling worn out, depleted and unhappy. According to Sinek, the responsibility of fixing and mending the challenges that come with Millennials is in the hands of the companies hiring them.
Millennials Impact on the Modern Day Workplace BY CATHERINE BATRES
Companies are benefiting from having Millennial employees. With the introduction of their new perspective, they are changing the future of workplace environments.
NEW YORK, United States - It is no secret that millennials are making their mark on our society and workplaces. Simon Sinek, British/American author, motivational speaker and marketing consultant, shared his thoughts on the generation by breaking down why millennials are the way they are. Listing some points such as failed parenting, the overuse of technology, impatience and the corporate work environment they are entering. In many ways these points are valid, but studies show that millennials are actually creating a new workplace and contributing a great deal to the fashion/beauty industry. The shifts that are happening in the workplace are also quite interesting. According to Sinek, the millennials entering the workforce have low self esteem and feel like they aren’t making a difference. According to Forbes, as new generations of employees enter the workforce and management positions, they bring with them a new perspective. A Netherland based human resources team teamed up with brand strategy firm to conduct a survey of more than 4,000 workers across 10 global markets to discover how Millennials are shaping their workplace. Leadership is very important to any business. Millennials liked to be directly in communication with their leaders. They not only want to share and implement their ideas but they want to shape their workplace. This mindset is beneficial to an organization that employs them or in the bigger picture. Millennials are very well prepared for working in teams. Many of them cited their coworkers are the most important asset in the workplace. This generation expects to be listened to and want feedback on a regular basis, whether its weekly, after every project or even daily, this trend could eliminate the concept for annual evaluations. In the workplace environment, millennials have different wants and needs. Workplace flexibility was more important to them than healthcare, and receiving 401K. This generation also has an eight-second attention span, “so the ability to communicate to them, to show them value, to get value from them is in the same burst of time that they’re able to get information today and communicate with others, which is instantaneously. I think it’s going to dramatically change the way work gets done in the future.” Technology is key in any workplace in the modern world. Technology and digital communication is a huge part of this generations everyday life, having a workplace that doesn’t adopt the best methods of technology use could be a turnoff. The idea of being able to work remotely, telecommute, etc. are things that millennials brought to the workforce. Companies that create technology or embrace it wholly have become the most successful. One industry that is seeing the potential and power of the millennials is the fashion industry. According to the Cut, the future fashion is not focused on the latest wearable device or marketing gimmicks but on the talent that is entering the industry from fashion schools. The magazine even featured eight recent graduates as they shared their visions for the industry. These millennials are bringing their 21st century minds paired with innovation and are creating the future of fashion. The opinions on this generation varies, but there is proof that Millennials are changing our workplaces and industries for the better.