Struggling with the new generation entering the workforce? Here's how to help them thrive

Can you hazard a guess at the most frequent concern employers express to us these days?

"The new generation entering the workforce is different. They don't communicate appropriately with senior people, they won't come into the office to network, and they lack resilience."

Sound familiar? Well, you're not alone. Employers across the board are grappling with how to integrate these young professionals into the work environment. And while this generation does bring a new mindset, they are here to stay, so it falls to employers to help them integrate and excel.

Want to know why they're so different?  You can watch a fascinating discussion with Simon Senek on this new workforce mindset here.

We've been hard at work addressing this issue, and we're excited to announce our newest course, designed specifically for junior team members: Professional Communication Skills for Junior Team Members.

Here are some tips from us to help you bridge the generational gap and help your younger employees thrive:

1. Align work with a greater purpose

This new generation is hungry for purpose-driven work. Make sure to communicate how their roles link to the broader company vision. Perhaps a quarterly meeting to discuss how the team's contributions are making an impact?

2. Celebrate authenticity while setting boundaries

While these young professionals crave authentic self-expression, it's crucial they understand the importance of context. Yes we must create an inclusive culture, but we also need to show them that adapting to the context shows maturity and is critical for building professional relationships with boundaries. Consider personal brand training to foster this skill.

3. Promote presence in meetings

Want a more engaged meeting? It might be time to enforce a "no mobile phone" policy in meeting rooms to show that your organisation takes meetings seriously and emphasises the value of being present and focused.

4. Build social confidence

Notice less social interaction among your junior members? It's not just your observation. Research shows this generation has less social confidence than previous ones, so find ways to help them build their social skills, for example setting up a Weekly Public Speaking Club.

5. Balance work and life

Finally, this generation values work-life balance highly, but human interaction remains critical for productivity, team work and that all-important sense of camaradie. How about getting everyone in the office on the same two days each week?

The modern workforce is continually evolving, and as hard as it is, so should our approach be to managing it. Let's step up and help these young professionals thrive.

This article was written by Carrie Swift, Fearless Coach.