If you Google "Millennial" you see the countless stereotypes written about the Millennial employee. They are called lazy, entitled, immature, non-committed job-hoppers.  Today many employers call Millennials a definite “flight risk.”I've been researching and speaking on Generations in the Workplace for over 10 years. I believe that time spent judging different generations would be much better spent understanding them.

Most Millennials were raised by Baby Boomers and are often misunderstood by Gen X, Traditionalists, and even the Boomers. When you understand what motivates this generation (also known as Gen Y), you gain a compelling competitive advantage in attracting, retaining, and engaging Millennial talent that fits well with your own organization.

I have always been fascinated with the concept of employee engagement. Before I became a professional speaker, I owned and operated four retail-clothing stores in Houston. Back then, I instinctively knew the power of employee engagement. I saw first hand that if my employees were happy and motivated they would be more productive—selling more and growing the business. And I found ways to support and encourage these positive attitudes in [...]

I have been presenting keynotes on Millennials and the generations in the workplace for nearly 10 years now. I can remember back in 2008 when there were just a handful of Millennials in the crowd. Today, my audiences are filled with professionals aged 36 and under, while the number of Millennials in the workplace continues to increase. This “New Workforce” is close to half of the US workforce and they [...]

I started speaking on the generations back in 2005 when the Millennials were starting to show up and make some noise in the workplace. It was a great fit because I felt I had an understanding of young people. You see,  before becoming a speaker I owned retail fashion stores in Houston. Hiring many young employees with no workplace experience was typical,  and I often discovered that  they had the potential become [...]

Because I speak on Generations in the Workplace and I focus on Millennials, I decided to start using Uber - as a research project- interviewing the drivers. My first trip was in DC visiting my daughter, Meredith. She got me on the app and boom in a few minutes a driver was there.  I used Uber throughout my visit. It was so much easier that walking to the metro or [...]

There are no quick and dirty tips when it comes to managing and Millennials in today’s workplace. Millennials, for those of you living under a rock, are individuals born after 1980 and particularly those now leaving college. The key to successfully managing this generation begins with understanding them. They look at their world, lifestyle, and work very differently than the generations preceding them do. The unpopular news is that you [...]

Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of speaking at several women’s conferences and I am excited to announce that, “Millennial Women Have Landed!”   Millennial Women Redefining Success. Millennial women (AKA Gen Y ages 21-35) are redefining what success looks like. This generation of women feel they are defined by what they do -  blending their work/careers and their personal lives. They are embracing “The Slash”: Career [...]

I travel across the country speaking on change and generations in the workplace and I can assure you that there is no silver bullet when it comes to managing and marketing to Millennials (people born after 1980 and especially those now leaving college). The key to successfully managing—and marketing to—this generation begins with understanding them. They look at their world, lifestyle, and work very differently than the generations preceding them do. The [...]