Learning from Millennials

These messages can help older leaders better understand and attract Millennials.

This month I finish teaching two classes at the University of Michigan, one in the College of Engineering and one in the Ross School of Business. As an assignment, I asked the students to share a key learning from the class. I believe these messages can help older leaders better understand and attract Millennials. (By the way, several of these students are searching for jobs or internships, so if you are interested, please contact me.)

1. Never under estimate how hard you have to work to achieve your dreams and goals.
2. Maintain a balance between work and play.
3. Be a mentor and find a mentor.
4. Create and stick with a support community to help you achieve your goals.
5. When thinking about asking for help, remember that people actually like helping other people.
6. Find the humility to help other people.
7. There is no clearly defined or specific route to success.
8. Surround yourself with people who are going somewhere, so they can push you to be better every day.
9. No matter how tough a day you have had in the workplace, give your family all the love they deserve when you get home.
10. Get out in the world and take risks, which involve getting out of your comfort zone.
11. Enjoying your work and fitting into the culture of the company is more important than the official work itself.
12. Just because you are getting a business degree, you do not need to go into a stereotypical business career like finance, consulting, or banking.
13. Perfection is the enemy of good enough.
14. Since your first job definitely will not be your last, it’s OK if things don’t work out exactly as you planned.
15. In order to succeed, you must help others to succeed.
16. “More sales may lead to better customer service, but better customer service always leads to more sales,” (from Kit Dickinson.)
17. According to one student, people who have goals earn three-times as much money as people who do not. Furthermore, people who write down goals earn ten times as much.
18. I learned that it is not just me – everyone has issues. The human experience is such an important part of life.
19. A key to staying connected with people is to never eat lunch or dinner alone.
20. Give to others without an expectation that they will immediately give you something in return.

Enjoy the day, do your best, and keep in touch.
Dr. Rob