THE MILLENNIAL SUPERVISOR
IN THE MULTIGENERATIONAL
OFFICE
INTRODUCTION

Meggan Ford
Assistant Director for Academic Services
George Mason University, School of Management
mford11@gmu.edu
ABSTRACT
This presentation will focus on the strong and
unique qualities Millennials feature and how to
utilize these qualities to motivate, influence, and
enable their employees to succeed in a healthy
and cohesive work environment.
 Offer suggestions and tips for Millennials who
are supervising a multigenerational staff.
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AUDIENCE CHECK-IN
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Supervisors
Generation Representation
Multigenerational Office?
How Many of You…
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Listen to music at work?
Remember using the card catalog at
the library?
Know someone who asked for vacation
time the first month at a new job?
Utilize FB, Twitter, or a blog for
your office?
Sleep with your cell phone next
to your bed?
Daily utilize two or more social
media sites?
WHAT IS A MULTIGENERATIONAL
OFFICE?
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A Multigenerational Office is one which encompasses
staff members from different generations
A Generation is a group of individuals, having similar
ideas, problems and attitudes most of whom were
born and living at about the same time
THE
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Silent Generation/Veterans/Traditionalists -1927-1945
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Loyalty to employer, strong work ethic, long hours
Career and self one in the same
Finding solutions to problems, respect for authority
Generation X- 1965-1980
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Very defined sense of right and wrong
Loyal, disciplined, detail-oriented
Fastest growth on social networking sites has come from this generation
Baby Boomers- 1946-1964
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GENERATIONS AT WORK TODAY?
Set and meet goals, productive
Balance work and life-enjoy flex hours
Comfortable with authority, but not impressed with titles
Tech savvy, value independence
Millennials/Generation Y/Next/Echo Boomers- 1981-2000
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Teamwork, multitasking all the time
Tech savvy-tech advancements
Expressing oneself, work and social life are separate
Dependent
WHO ARE THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
TODAY?
WHO ARE THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
TODAY?
THE BOOMERS
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The Internal Consultant
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Many Boomers have been working for as long as a
Millennial supervisor has been alive
Utilize this work experience by viewing your
Boomers as “internal consultant” and acknowledge
their expertise
The People People
Boomers very good with one-on-one communication
and contact
 Especially useful when working with college students
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Competitive
Had to stick out in a crowd of 80 million
 They like to be held in “good light”
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THE GEN X EMPLOYEE
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Honesty and Frankness
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Don’t try to butter up some trivial task to be
something it is not
Value Independence
Have Gen X staff member take the lead on a new
program
 Do not micromanage and constantly check-in
 Utilize individual talents to invent
and achieve
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Slow to Trust
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Work is no guarantee
THE MILLENNIAL EMPLOYEE
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Innovative
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Team Work
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Not afraid to use creativity or new resources
Work well with others, great motivators, great
excitement
Try Anything Attitude
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Like being a part of implementing new programs,
will try anything once
*How Millennial Are You Quiz?
http://pewresearch.org/millennials/quiz
SUPERVISING A MULTIGENERATIONAL
STAFF
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Who is Your Staff?
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The Office
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Meet with staff members and ask about their role in the office,
career goals, professional development, trainings they would like
to attend, changes they may want to implement in the office
How have you been valuable to the office?
Does your staff understand their duties and role in the office?
What are the mission and goals of your office?
What services does your office provide and how?
What is the office hierarchy?
Limitations-What are your limitations and those of your staff
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What are they comfortable doing
What are some tasks they are uncomfortable with or lack
expertise
How can you change the way staff thinks about what is possible?
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Turning negative energy into positive
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STAFF
“You’re the new kid”
 Staff Meetings
 One-on-One Meetings
 Snaps/Pop Quiz
 Build Confidence
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Envelope game
Committee
 Staff Retreats
 How have you been valuable to the office?
 “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old
you are” –Satchel Paige
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NEED FOR SPEED
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Set a speed limit for your staff
What is an appropriate amount of time to spend with
a student?
 What are expected deadlines for projects?
 What is YOUR definition of ASAP
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Millennials are Fast-Try not to mistake efficiency
for laziness
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61% of Millennials said they were bored at work
Is the pace you set reasonable for all generations
in your office?
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Do boomers feel frustrated at the constant need for
speed?
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THE
MILLENNIALS?
Negatives
Positives
Lazy, No work ethic
Multitask
Self involved
All about giving back
The Dumbest Generation
Incredibly educated
Trophy Kids
Family values
Rude
Inquisitive
Too demanding
Team work and feedback
Entitled
High expectations
THE MILLENNIAL
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Does office policy and procedure cause your
Millennial to lose heart and give up?
Make sure you communicate with your younger staff the
challenges some change presents and suggest strategies to
overcome them
 Study by Adecco found that 71% of full-time employees age
18-29 said they were likely to look for new jobs as soon as
economic downturn reversed
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Desire Instant Feedback
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Try to keep as equal for all staff members
Make rounds
Check-in via e-mail or office AIM
The Multitasker
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Researchers have shown that performing multiple tasks at
once makes the brain less efficient
THE MILLENNIAL
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Network
Millennials need contact with other young
professionals, especially in higher education
 Assist your young staff with building relevant
contacts. This means you will need to get yourself
well-connected on campus and know what is going on
 Invite guest speakers from campus to your staff
meetings
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SUPERVISING
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“I Don’t Know”
You will not have the 15 + years work experience
that some of your staff have
 It’s okay to be “out of the loop”
 Have fun staff meetings where you sometimes
conduct role play with your staff
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Don’t Make Assumptions
Never assume your staff understands basic etiquette
 You may have to conduct a training on what business
professional dress means, what are work hours and
how to show up on time, how to leave professional
voice mail and proper e-mail correspondence
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“I’M NOT A KID, I’M YOUR
SUPERVISOR”
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The Parent Relationship
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Supervisor not Mentor
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How does your staff communicate with you?
Don’t reverse roles in the office
Work Ethic
Know what it means to have an old fashioned work
ethic
 To some generations amount of hours spent at work =
how hard you work
 “Don’t judge me by what I do at my desk, but what I
produce”
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WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
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Generational expectations do not always
match up
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HR is Your Friend-Use Them!
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Would you refer to your Dean as “Hey
Bob”?
Is it okay to utilize your cell phone while in
meetings?
Would you show up to an important office
event in a short skirt or ripped pants?
Social Media stalking, pinterest, fantasy
football, blogging at work
Is it okay to use “text language” when
communicating with staff or students,
LOL?
Would you utilize confidential information
for your benefit?
New Supervisor Training Series
Safe Space Training
QUALITIES OF A MILLENNIAL
SUPERVISOR
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The Great Collaborator
View parents, peers, and staff as colleagues not rivals
 Natural ambassadors, we like to teach what we know
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The Great Motivator
Technology is our Friend
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Remember tech savvy does not mean tech expert
High Energy
Enthusiasm
 Use this to reinvigorate a burnt out staff
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Higher Education
Counseling foundation
 Student development theory
 Better understanding of what students want and expect
 Understand how to work with different personalities
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WHAT NOT TO DO
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Communicating
Avoid profanity like the plague
Shy away from saying “I know how you feel” especially to
Boomers and Veterans
 Don’t interrupt-even if you are excited about an idea
 Don’t criticize staff for the way things are done – “You’re
STILL using files in this office”
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Time Management
Procrastination is NOT your friend – Complete tasks as
they come across your desk, don’t let staff see you frazzled
or stressed
 Don’t let your staff constantly see you on social media sites,
texting, or taking personal phone calls at work
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Hierarchy
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Respect the Corporate Ladder
Avoid sending direct e-mails without going through your
supervisor first
WHAT NOT TO DO
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Shrug Responsibility
Don’t deflect responsibility if you failed to do something
 Never throw your staff under the bus – let them know they
have your support
 Constant delegation = you not doing work
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Hold your tongue
Never speak ill of your staff to other staff members
 Do not make negative comments about your supervisor to
or around your staff
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Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
Don’t pretend to understand or know something you don’t
 Especially true with the young staff – Sometimes have a
tendency to spout theory, it’s OKAY to not know every
theorist
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JUST A FEW TIPS
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Communicate Change with your Staff
Make sure your staff is in the loop
If new implementations and changes are coming up, make
sure they are prepared and not taken by surprise
 Ask their opinion
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Avoid Office Isolation
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Utilize your Contacts
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Get your office involved in homecoming, alumni weekend,
participating in Diversity Events on campus
What are other offices implementing?
What are some new technologies that will improve the
services your staff provides?
Maintain Optimism
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If ideas get shot down, more work for same pay, frustration
with higher up’s – whatever it may be keep a smile on your
face
TIPS
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Consult with Your Supervisor
Bring expectations and frustrations of your staff to the attention of
your supervisor
 Is your staff utilizing your supervisor too much?
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Keep Records
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This will come in handy during staff assessments. Boomers want
specifics (date, time, how often, etc) having records will help you prove
your point
Be Understanding
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When dealing with difficult staff understand generational differences
Be sympathetic in regards to your staff’s personal life
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May be caring for a parent at home, health issues, etc
Don’t get frustrated if staff uncomfortable with technology
Rewards
Give credit where credit is due
Rewarding staff can be as small as taking them for frozen yogurt
during your regular meeting time
 Flex time
 Showcasing awards of your staff in department newsletters and
websites, same as is done for faculty
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a84zZGyioKM