CULTIVATING MILLENNIAL LEADERS
Authors: Folarin Kehinde 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: Millennials are multiplying into the workforce population today as they are reaching their peak employment years. They are giving new insight into office life and the structure among employees and employers.  They are the next generation to be leaders in the workplace and will be the generation that shapes the future of leadership. There are not many millennial role models that potential leaders can follow and emulate.  Nevertheless, the literature regarding millennials and the workforce has been developed primarily in the context of next generation.  Less research has been done on ways to building leadership core competencies and capacities for the potential of these millennial leaders, particularly in today’s workforce.

Methodology: A qualitative study and research to consider the best practices for enhancing the number of millennials leaders that will lead their company in the upcoming future was carried out.  It was also done to seek ways in educating the senior leaders on the importance of changing with the trends and accepting the millennials as the future. By exploring the workplace profile of Millennials, the use of technology, their workplace engagement style, and the ultimate impact they have on organizational success.

Findings:  The research discovered that to cultivate and enhance the number of millennial leaders, it is important first to understand the attitudes and behaviors of the generation. The primary traits of the millennial generation that may manifest as elements of millennial leadership styles are collaboration, integration, multitasking, experimentation and nomadic behaviors. There are three things leaders can do to assure these millennials will achieve success on the job, despite generational differences. First, is giving them the big picture. Second, leaders need to help the millennials find the “me” in team. Lastly, millennials need to be mentored on career-building behaviors. Career- building is one area in which beginning workers may be deficient compared to the older or more experienced employees.

Millennials have many positive leadership traits of which a company should take advantage; they are great multi-taskers, embrace diversity, innovative, flexible, innovate, and willing to put in the extra hours to move toward success. Incorporating these factors while also providing the future leaders with a strong sense of the company’s programs, goals and vision are all important when developing this generation of leaders.

Unique Contribution and Recommendation: Today’s workplace is undergoing dramatic shifts due to the growth of Millennials within the workforce and the insertion of their ideals, values, and identity in organizations. Therefore, management should implement some practices to promote these cultures, like flexible work hours and schedules, Employee engagement( work parties, Work outings, work event and gatherings), Clear Career path and opportunities, Open communication, Give them purpose and also acknowledge their work. Developing such skills may require more time and a deeper level of engagement and collaboration than is typically invested in efforts to strengthen the workplace