Millennials Rock the Org Chart

CUNA’s E-Scan Newsletter
September 3, 2010 | COMMENTS

As the 20-somethings enter the workplace, they're armed with ambition and creativity. They're also destined to change the way businesses run, according to a recent study by marketing agency Mr. Youth and the market research company Intrepid.

The goal of the study was to anticipate what businesses would look like if Millennials—also known as Generation Y—were already in charge.

“The next decade will require that businesses make large-scale changes to the way they operate, especially when it comes to embracing the perspective of a Millennial and wanting to move ahead of the curve,” Misia Tramp, co-founder of Intrepid, tells T&D magazine.

The six-month study focused on three major areas of business—the organization, the product, and the marketing—and how the Millennials felt about each area.

When it comes to the organization, Millennials prefer a collaboratively led enterprise:

• 82% think it's important that businesses have a staff capable of doing each other's jobs.
• 54% prefer to make decisions by consensus—a number that shoots up to 70% when respondents are among their peers.

Stimulating Work Environment

Millennials need to be in an environment that continually keeps them stimulated and engaged or they'll look elsewhere. What they expect in the workplace:

• Continual change. Millennials grew up in a constantly changing world, and they're always searching for work that keeps their attention. When surveyed, the number-one reason given for switching jobs is “just needed a change.” That need far exceeds the desire for a better salary, benefits, or a more senior position.
• A challenging environment. In addition to a workplace that is both “fun” and “friendly,” “challenging” was identified as the key component of a good work environment.

Idea-Powered Culture

“Seniority” and “tenure” are dirty words to Millennials. Authority is earned and proven through direct interactions, not given blindly based on titles, seniority, or ability to play office politics. Millennials believe in:

• Earning rewards. Given the chance to create virtual companies, Millennials designed a model that required each employee, despite title or skill set, to start at the ground level and move up through the company. This approach ensured that every employee would have some face-to-face contact with the customer base and experience the brand firsthand. Those who excelled would be promoted quickly and paid more for their abilities.
• Following the ideas. In a world where anyone can be an author, director, or photographer, Millennials are used to a playing field where good ideas and work rise to the top. Individuals with big ideas expect to be successful and gain respect. If not, their ideas go elsewhere.

“Millennials clearly have a different view on business, marketing, and communication—much of which stems from being immersed in social technologies from a fairly young age,” says Brandon Evans, managing partner and chief strategy officer for Mr. Youth. These strong differences in attitudes and behaviors are greatly underrepresented in how most companies approach their consumers—and in how they structure the workforce.

This article originally appeared in CUNA's E-Scan Newsletter. Reprinted with permission.