Were you born roughly between 1980 and 2000? If so, you are in good company. Approximately 80 million so-called Millennials live in U.S. Worldwide, 2 billion of you make up about a quarter of the earth’s population.
What does this mean for the future of work? How will Millennial values, outlook, and experience change the way we work? Will businesses and organizations be more flexible, productive, egalitarian, adventurous, inventive, and entrepreneurial? Will there be more “work-life” balance, more work satisfaction?
And given that many of the Baby Boomers have not exited the stage; how will they affect the outlook and performance of their successors? Do they see the Millennials as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage new talent, energy, and experience? As individuals to learn from? Or, do Boomers see Millennials as somewhat unfamiliar creatures who are a challenge to manage?
These are fascinating and important questions.
Most of us spend a large part of our lives at work—whether in an office, manufacturing plant, home, or other environment. What happens at work has a direct affect on our self-esteem, economy, and communities.
The workplace—in all its forms—can be shaped by the people in it. The big question going forward is how will the Millennials shape it, or be shaped by it.