By Linda Reedy, Human Resource Professional, MRA

I recently read a study that centered on what Millennials actually think about the workplace. The information was gathered from focus groups across various organizations. Themes emerged around focus, flexibility, and feedback and it reminded me of my grandson who falls into the Gen Y/Millennial category. This is the generation of the future and yet what do we really know about them?

The study, entitled Millennials Speak, conducted by Rupert & Company, focused on increasing their engagement in the workplace and it got me thinking. In the coming years, Millennials will replace the Baby Boomers in the workplace. As employers, how do we prepare for this shift? What do we know? What do we need to ask?

As you may expect, Millennials are technically quite knowledgeable. All I have to do is ask my grandson a technical question and I can bet you that he will have the answer. Technology has always been a part of his life, whether it’s computers, the Internet, or cell phones. Millennials tend to like the 24/7 social networking connection so it feels normal for them to check their work emails remotely on their smartphones. Their comfort with virtual technologies also makes offsite work more natural. Within this workforce generation, there is an awareness of and desire for working from anywhere, anytime, and for expecting flexibility to enable work-life balance—something they share with Generation Xers as well. Millennials also demonstrate a skill at multi-tasking. Talking on the phone while responding to email and answering multiple instant messages at the same time—no problem! In fact, without many different tasks and goals to pursue, Millennials will likely experience boredom.

While Millennials like the 24/7 social networking connection and dislike long working hours, they are fundamentally conservative in their lifestyle, with a dislike of uncertainty and risk. They are looking for a workplace that reflects their values. They search for personal growth and work that is meaningful and challenging. Friendship is such a strong motivator for Millennial workers that they may choose a job just to be with their friends. While they are not workaholics, they are hard workers and understand the relationship between a balanced life and productivity.

The 75 million members of this generation have been raised by parents who showered them with attention and high expectations, which may be why many display a great deal of self-confidence. All Millennials have one thing in common, though: They are new to the professional workplace. Therefore, they are definitely in need of mentoring, no matter how smart and confident they are. And they respond well to the personal attention.

Get to know the Millennials in your workplace. What makes them tick? What keeps them engaged? I know from my grandson that providing lots of challenges but also the structure to back it up fits him to a tee. He asks thoughtful questions and I hope I’ve been a good mentor to him. Only time will tell.