3. Why can’t we all get along?
“Millennials are horrible. Just horrible. I’m so worried about our
nation’s future. All they ever do is play with their phones. They
have ‘I’ this and ‘I’ that. They don’t know how to carry on a real
conversation anymore. They’re so disrespectful. They’re lazy
too. When I was young I had to look things up to learn
something. All they ever do is ask their pal ‘google’ to spoon
feed them. They don’t understand how to dress nicely. It’s like
they just expect everything to be given to them. How are we
supposed to move forward as a nation with people like that?
They’re the reason we’re falling behind in education and I can
tell you why! It’s because they can’t listen to anything for more
than five seconds.”
Millennials are the worst. They’re lazy, materialistic, and non-
committal. Gen-Xers are universally cynical. Baby Boomers are
bossy, bigoted, and wasteful. Discussions over generational
differences are common these days and equally discouraging
from each perspective.
Susie Herder
4. If we want to be able to speak into the lives of Millennials,
we must start by changing our root emotions toward them.
From Cynicism to Understanding
&
From Frustration to Hope
6. 1940s 1960s
Boomers
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
Culture
- Post-war American Spirit
- Economic Growth
- First ever Youth Culture
- Depression Survivors
- Believed that hard work
was the path to success
- Defined success as a hardworking
career into retirement
- Culture Influence
- Civil Rights & War protests
- Popular Music
- Tech advances
- Politically Engaged
- As Parents: Detached & Illusive
7. 1960s 1980sGeneration X
Culture
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
- Anti-war protests &
disjointed American Spirit
- Powerful Youth Culture
- Slowed Economics
- Rarely around
- Pessimistic about the country
and the future
- Defined Success as happiness
(however and wherever it is found)
- Culture Created
- Strong Tribal Ties
8.
9. 1960s 1980sGeneration X
Culture
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
- Anti-war protests &
disjointed American Spirit
- Powerful Youth Culture
- Slowed Economics
- Rarely around
- Pessimistic about the country
and the future
- Defined Success as happiness
(however and wherever it is found)
- Culture Created
- Strong Tribal Ties
- Grunge (Music & Worldview)
10.
11. 1960s 1980sGeneration X
Culture
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
- Anti-war protests &
disjointed American Spirit
- Powerful Youth Culture
- Slowed Economics
- Rarely around
- Pessimistic about the country
and the future
- Defined Success as happiness
(however and wherever it is found)
- Culture Created
- Strong Tribal Ties
- Grunge (Music & Worldview)
- Politically Apathetic
- As Parents:
- Better than my mom & dad
- “Helicopters”
12. 1980s 2000s
Millennials
Culture
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
- Personal Technology & the Internet
- Worldwide obsession with youth
culture
- Economic growth
- Overly active parents
- protected from things their parents faced
- Parents wanted them to be
happy above all
- Defined success as doing
something that is meaningful
- Culture Created (so far)
- Social Media
- Eclectic Socially (distracted)
13.
14. 1980s 2000s
Millennials
Culture
Childhood Culture
Parenting
Characteristics
- Personal Technology & the Internet
- Worldwide obsession with youth
culture
- Economic growth
- Overly active parents
- protected from things their parents
faced
- Attempted to produce happy children
- Defined success as doing
something that is meaningful
- Culture Created (so far)
- Social Media
- Eclectic Socially (distracted)
- Politically Hesitant
- As Parents:
- Not sure yet!
15. So Who are these Millennials?
‣ They are a product of the world they grew up in
‣ i.e. this is what happens to a generation when you
give them everything.
‣ Non-Linear thinkers, which mimics the internet they
grew up on
‣ They like random jokes, being a part of multiple
tribes, and feeling connected to the world.
Character
16.
17. So Who are these Millennials?
‣ They are a product of they world they grew up in
‣ i.e. this is what happens to a generation when you
give them everything they want.
‣ Non-Linear thinkers, which mimics the internet they
grew up on
‣ They like random jokes, being a part of multiple
tribes, and feeling connected to the world.
‣ Both enamored & overwhelmed by technology
‣ Quick threshold for boredom comes from
expectations fueled by technology
‣ Overwhelmed by the plethora of digital
information leading to a renewed love for the
simple “analog” life (i.e. hipsterdom)
Character
18.
19. Why should we care?
‣ Low fiscal responsibility leads to higher buying power
‣ Because of their time in life, when they make
money, they don’t spend it on rent and insurance.
‣ Arts & Entertainment (arguably the World’s two most
powerful industries) are either made for or by
Millennials
Relevance
20.
21. Why should we care?
‣ Low fiscal responsibility leads to higher buying power
‣ i.e. when they make money, they don’t spend it on
rent and insurance.
‣ Arts & Entertainment (arguably the World’s two most
powerful industries) are either made for or by
Millennials
‣ At the top of the influence Pyramid, they control all of
the trends.
Relevance
24. 6 Ways to Engage Millennials for Your Business
25. Millennials as…
Customers
1. Overwhelmed & Underwhelmed
‣ Overwhelmed with noise (sound bites & visuals)
‣ Your soundbites and visuals must meet them
where they already are, in the spaces where they
already are.
‣ You must make your marketing matter, and only
speak to who is going to listen.
26.
27. Millennials as…
Customers
2. Digital meets Physical (“Digical")
‣You must meet millennials where they are in digital
space, but invite them to do something more.
‣Travelers rely on planes to get them from city to
city. Reservations, ticketing, payments are digital
‣Healthcare
‣Smart Homes…meshing digital with physical.
source: bain.com
28. Millennials as…
Customers
3. Independent & Dependent
‣ Millennials know how to do a lot, but they are also
young and hungry for purpose. Treat them like
adults but make sure your marketing contains a
clear picture of your organizations meaning and
purpose.
31. Millennials as…
Employees
1. Create a clear vision/purpose for your work place
‣Millennials work best in an environment where their
mission and purpose are clearly envisioned.
‣Clear communication and simplicity will get you
further faster
‣This is not because millennials are incompetent,
rather it is because they seek meaning in their work.
‣Millennials want work that matters.
32.
33. Millennials as…
Employees
2. Establish a clear authoritarian structure, but be
accessible to your employees.
‣Millennials can tell when you don’t care, don’t tell
them you care, show them you care.
‣Web of Inclusion Organizational Structure
‣Important: Have an authoritative structure, not a
bureaucratic one.
source: SallyHelgesen.com
34. Millennials as…
Employees
3. Listen to your Millennial employee's ideas, and give
them a chance to take risks and fail.
‣ Millennials do best when they feel heard and
trusted, give them a chance to lead and you could
be surprised at the results.
36. 1. There was a time in all of our lives when someone took a chance
on us; Millennials need someone to take a chance on them too.
2. If you are older, you’ve experienced the friction of generational
gaps. Use that experience to understand what Millennials are
going through.
3. Don’t give up, just because you don’t understand. Give the
Millennials you know a chance to explain where they come from.