3 Ways to Help Millennials in the Workplace
Millennials are an increasing portion of the workforce in America. But employers aren’t sure quite how to handle millennials in the workplace, and often times they can be misunderstood. They are often viewed as job hoppers (but it might just be because they have a constant fear of being let go), they are viewed as overconfident (but they’ve actually had more experience prior to graduation than any previous generation) and employers have a hard time helping them reach their full potential. Fast Company has offers strategies to help millennials in the workplace in their article, How to Bridge the Gap Between Potential and Performance. Here are my top three:
Top 4 Traits of Front-Line Retail Employees
Your front line retail associates are often overlooked. The store associates are the people who interact with consumers the most and ultimately have the greatest influence on your brand representation. That’s why it’s critical for you to make the investment in training and education so your employees are representing your brand as it should be. There are a
handful of traits that can make truly great retail employees. Here are my 4 favorite traits that create real leaders on your brand's front line.
Leadership That Listens: Building Momentum Through Action & Accountability
Leadership isn’t just about direction, it’s about connection. While traditional traits like discipline and teamwork still matter, the most effective leaders today are those who act on feedback, build trust through accountability, and keep their teams aligned around a shared purpose. These qualities don’t just keep your business humming, they fuel growth, innovation, and long-term engagement.
Creating a Sense of Employee Purpose
At a large company like PwC it is a constant struggle to establish employee purpose. Employees don't want to feel like a cog in the wheel on the road to nowhere. They want to see their impact and want to have purpose in their job, whether they are in an executive management meeting or filing papers in the mailroom.
So how do employers work to establish purpose at work? Here are a few ideas that came from
PwC's recent summit on social purpose that could have a positive impact on an organization, large or small.
The Importance of the Employee Suggestion Box
The employee suggestion box may seem like an antiquated concept. Who is going to drop a crumpled up piece of paper into a box, or send and email to an anonymous email address? With that attitude, no one. However,
Hugh Molotsi, VP of Innovation at Intuit Labs, believes that employee ideas can be the most underutilized tool in an employer's innovation strategy.
Here's the scenario: Your company encounters a large organizational issue. Senior management can't solve it. So, the organization spends thousands, if not millions, to bring in a consultant to try to solve the problem. It may work in the long-term, but how can you ensure ROI on such a huge investment? Alternatively, you could pose a brainstorm contest or competition (
think like a hack-a-thon) to your employees, spend a couple hundred dollars bringing in lunch or dinner for the staff, and empower your
employees to find the fix. Not only have you saved an enormous amount of money, but you've given your employees the opportunity to have a
direct impact on shaping your organization. An employee suggestion can turn into real solutions to problems and real improvements in your organization, without bringing in expensive and sometimes disruptive consultants. Do you invite your employee suggestion into organization strategy sessions or problem solving exercises? If you don't, it might be time to consider a change in 2015.
