This post has been brewing for a decade. As a people manager, I seem to get captured by a whole lot of commiserating over bad employees. Perhaps you too are tired of the Millennial cliché. People have made careers telling us how we can appease or “fix” them. Excuse me if this seems obvious: Who raised these children who now need to be fixed?
Before I go on, let me be clear. I don’t personally believe Millennials as a group are harder to manage than any other generation. Plus, I think managing to stereotypes is foolish. I’ve managed a diverse group over my career, and irrespective of age, ethnicity, gender, or education, people are the product of their nature, upbringing, and choices. I’ve seen just as many dedicated, trustworthy, eager, collaborative, mission-oriented employees as there are overly sensitive, self-centered, unmotivated, and unprepared ones. Which brings me back to parenting. Raising children to care about their work and performance secures their future well-being.
- Know and respect your child’s individuality. A child blooms when you give them the opportunity to be themselves fully. Don’t hear that as they should be unbridled. At a minimum, your mission should be to daily guide your child to become well-adjusted, happy, and productive adults.
- Raise your children to appreciate their life has purpose. Help them see the value of their lives.
- Encourage their curiosity. Wondering is the impetus to asking questions which leads to discoveries, proofs, and evidence, all of which teach children to think for themselves. These days the danger though is that curiosity is blighted by Googling for quick answers. A parent who coaxes a child’s wonder helps develop a more interesting and thoughtful adult. Let them experience real art; take them to a farm to pick blueberries; show them what generous giving produces.
- Let your children work through hard things – pain, fears, failures, losses. There is no safer time for children to traverse life’s challenges than with a caring adult who knows them well enough to help them become stronger through difficulties.
- Teach them humility, respect for others, and an appreciation for differing ideas and opinions. These attitudes strengthen their own beliefs, values, and integrity.
Parenting is an odyssey, each child different, each stage set against changing backdrops, while occurring during periods marked by differing social, health, economic and political landscapes. Be encouraged that many, many have gone before you, but also be resolved to the responsibility you accepted. You are a leader, maybe to only those in your home, but still a leader with trusting eyes locked in on you with the hope that you’ll direct them to a secure and happy adulthood.
As every parent knows, we can do the very best and still our children seem to be off course. I’m not saying “I blame the parents” because ultimately even the errant adult can’t hide from him or herself. The difference is, unlike in family, if an employee doesn’t perform the job assigned to them, grace will eventually run out. Bosses everywhere – not just your children – hope you’ll parent diligently.