Be Open as a Manager Management processes are in continual flux with adaptability being a key trait. The key to managing a Millennial workforce is in adopting a more open and inclusive attitude than in the past. For younger workers, a top-down management style can be hard to cope with and may not get the best results in the long run. Millennials want to be heard, and more importantly, they want to be included in the decision making process within your company. Interactivity is key for this group which is why you should develop an open approach to management. If you adapt a more open approach to a Millennial, chances are you will reap results. Open Office Structure Millennials want openness in their physical environment, as much as they want it in their online world. According to Forbes, one New York based advertising firm set up a Millennial-only wing, where young workers could sit in a more open planned working environment. Having an open plan office removes pre-existing management structures, it promotes the use of open communication with millennials and ignites the ideas process. In general, Millennials want easy access to other staff members, to feel part of the team, and to have a minimum amount of barriers in their working environment. The rise of coworking and alternative office spaces, such as WeWork, is evidence of how Millennials like working in an office environment, just not the traditional hierarchical office structure that existed in the past. Creating a more modern structure within your own company may be a way to engage your millennials and utilise their ideas for the benefit of the company also. Making a Mark Millennials want something great to believe in, for the employer this means knowing your company mission and communicating that effectively. They grew up watching other young people make a difference and believe they can too. Millennials will pull together under a simple company vision so why not use your company orientations to communicate that vision directly. According to research by the Brookings Institute, Millennials are more concerned with the advancement of a cause, and are less concerned with individual success. Employers need to be aware of this and cater to the interests of Millennials. Millennials are more likely to be attracted to an organisation which is in pursuit of a cause. Heavy industry has a lot to offer in this area but its potential has been largely untapped. For instance, as Don Ward of Constructing Excellence explained at GoContractor’s Breakfast Briefing, construction is all about shaping the world of our future. The ability to create the sustainable, environmentally friendly future is appealing to Millennials and construction has more influence in this area than just about any other industry. The renewable energy sector is also growing rapidly and could be hugely attractive to young workers if it is targeted effectively. We hope that these tips might help your organisation to respond to the new hiring landscape. Increased use of online communication with millennials, an open management style and the clear communication of company vision may not be the full list but they are a good start in getting your business up to speed! 
