By Josh White
There is a major misconception that millennials are lazy and entitled employees, looking for employer handouts and that they are willing to self-motivate and put in the work necessary to succeed in the workforce. In reality, approximately 84% of this generation say they care more about making a difference at their jobs rather than their own individual success, showing they are incredibly impact-motivated, passionate, and driven employees.
Millennials now represent half of the U.S. workforce, with many entering the contracting industry specifically in the coming years. These employees will be coming in looking to make a positive impact across the industry, something that is desperately needed for many businesses due to various setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. As the workforce continues to evolve, employers must learn to adapt their management styles to further appeal to the next generation of workers. Millennial workers prioritize company culture and effective leadership from their companies. In fact, 44% of millennials would be more likely to increase their work engagement if their managers met with them more frequently. Regardless of the industry or workforce generation, happy and engaged employees typically perform at higher levels and are overall more satisfied with their careers, which translates to improved overall success of the company.
Below are a few principles contracting employers can implement to effectively manage their millennial employees for a happier work environment and higher ROI, all of which can make a tremendous difference in a company’s future success.
1. CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE
Millennials yearn for impactful opportunities within their careers, which can drastically affect where they choose to work and who to work for. Once they’re hired, however, how can employers keep them motivated and satisfied? One way is to give them a sense of purpose regardless of the type or size of a project. Millennials desire that what they do is worthwhile and meaningful, beyond simply making money for themselves or for their company.
It can be challenging at times for millennials in this industry to feel like they’re making a meaningful difference, as skilled trade positions have been dubbed as inferior to other industries. In reality, a skilled trade career can be one of the better fields to enter due to a variety of reasons, including the chance to make major impacts on everyday people, something that should be continually emphasized to each new employee. Whether it be building and reconstructing homes for families to live and grow in, or commercial projects that impact an entire community, the work of contractors can be bigger than one small project, which can be incredibly appealing and fulfilling to millennial workers.
2. PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONGST EMPLOYEES
Millennials thrive on the opportunity to make a difference and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Therefore, it’s not surprising that millennials look for opportunities to work within a team setting in which they can engage and build relationships with their colleagues, even though this generation tends to struggle with face-to-face communication. This is in large part due to the technologically-driven world in which they grew up in, spending a majority of their time interacting with others via technology rather than in person.
Business owners can help millennial employees gain valuable communication skills by presenting more opportunities for team members to interact with each other and build comradery. While this can be a tricky time for in-person interactions due the COVID-19 pa ndemic, virtual team building and team events are a great way to bring employees together when human interaction has now become scarce.
Employers should challenge millennial employees and give them more opportunities outside of what is expected, which can also help in promoting collaboration, and helping teams form connections that extend far beyond the job site. Not only can businesses benefit from the results of a close-knit team, employees will grow as individuals as well by building confidence and comfortability, something the millennial generations are said to struggle with.
3. PROVIDE FEEDBACK
Like many individuals who are looking to build upon their strengths and diminish their weaknesses while climbing the industry ladder, receiving feedback from leaders and mentors is paramount in this process of self-improvement. In order to make the large impacts desired, millennials need to recognize they must continually improve and sharpen their skills. One of the main ways this is done is through receiving consistent and helpful feedback from supervisors.
Employers must set up quarterly meetings with their contractors, review their skills, and share constructive comments to help them improve in their future projects. Too many times employers worry about hurting their employees’ feelings and avoid constructive criticism, when in reality, clear and honest feedback can be the only way to jumpstart improvement. Giving frequent feedback also builds trust between employers and their workers, showing employees their supervisors truly care about their growth while also giving them clarity on where they can improve. Employees can then take this feedback and set clear objectives and goals for improvement, keeping them feeling challenged and inspired to continually improve.
CLOSING THOUGHT
The millennial generation will change the workforce indefinitely as more enter the professional realm each and every year. It’s on leaders throughout the contracting industry to prioritize investing in millennial employees—not just as workers, but as people—both professionally and personally. By following these three steps, millennial employees will have the tools they need to greatly impact the future of the contracting industry, the clients they serve and their overall community.
About The Author
Josh White has served as the president of Hoosier Contractors since 2013. Hoosier Contractors is a locally owned and operated residential and commercial contracting business serving the greater Indianapolis area. Using a customer-first approach to build business, Hoosier Contractors’ services include roof repair and replacement, gutters, siding, painting, home construction, and more. Hoosier Contractors is part of the National Roofing Contractor Association and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. For more, visit hoosierroof.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, April 2021
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