The Millennial Boss: How Millennial Managers are Changing the Workplace

Millennials are now occupying C-level positions and building corporations. Here's how they are making an impact on the workplace as leaders. The topic of 'the millennial boss' has been trending on TikTok since late last year as more Gen Z users join the workforce. One of the viral videos on the topic was uploaded by a user named Kristen, wherein she recounted the incident between her and her millennial boss. In the video, Kristen explained that after openly communicating with her manager that she felt slighted and undermined after a meeting with clients, her manager, aged 36, responded professionally through email and apologised for her behaviour. According to Kristen, owning up to one's misgivings is a practice she had never seen from her former Baby Boomer bosses. The video, which amassed over a million views to date, is also flooded with comments from other users, sharing similar experiences and observations with their millennial colleagues, specifically their bosses. Millennials, or individuals born between 1981 and 1996, have started occupying managerial positions in companies, and according to experts, this new breed of leaders is changing how the workplace is managed. A survey conducted by a career development site, Muse, showed these millennial managers' different traits and values. It showed a stark contrast to the more traditional practices of the previous generations. Though we could never generalise an entire generation, millennials share common experiences and culture as they were growing up. These shared experiences form a trend among the age group and help influence how millennials view the world. Not too long ago, millennials were often painted in the media as being lazy or not wanting to do the dirty work. These negative stereotypes usually come from older generations who do not always share the same work ethic as their younger counterparts. Now, millennial managers and bosses are showing that they can become excellent leaders in their own way. Here are the five ways millennial managers are changing the workplace.
 

1. Want to make a difference in the world

One of the refreshing differences among millennial managers is that they want to have a clear purpose in their work. According to the survey from Muse, millennials see their work as their way to make an impact and change the world. This belief is especially true among millennial entrepreneurs who wish to develop products and services that can improve people's lives. Furthermore, younger generations also want their personal views to align with the companies they are part of. Tommy Flaim, CEO of Fox&Robin, a sustainable activewear brand, saw that young professionals wish to work with companies that also reflect their values. "Morale is highest when they're convinced the company they work for is doing the right thing behind closed doors day in and day out," Flaim said.
 

2. Value work-life balance

In another viral TikTok, user AshleywithAnxiety shared that the differences between her millennial managers and her Boomer bosses are 'night and day'. AshleywithAnxiety further shared that her former managers only gave her one week of paid time off after working in the company for a year, as opposed to her younger manager, who allowed her to have five weeks of PTO. Taking time off and not feeling guilty about it is one practice that millennial managers aim to promote in the workplace. Millennials emphasise work-life balance and believe that people work better when they feel more fulfilled with their lives outside of work.
 

3. Leadership based on trust

Gone are the days of managers constantly hovering over their subordinates at work, at least for millennial bosses. According to an article from Buzzfeed, millennial managers scoff at the idea of micromanaging their team. Instead, for the new breed of leaders, trust is the key. They aim to build trust with their colleagues and focus on getting things done when needed. Not needing to micromanage and having a relationship based on trust could be why millennials and Gen Z professionals are more open to the remote work setup, unlike their older managers. According to Market Watch, Baby Boomers and more senior Gen X managers tend to think that employees working from home would abuse the flexible setup and end up not being productive. However, according to the survey by Workplace Trends, a flexible work setup actually increases productivity.
 

4. Practise open communication

Having open communication with their team members is a priority for many millennial managers. Kristen's TikTok video about the incident with her manager is a prime example of how millennial bosses are not afraid of feedback and how much they value having an open line of communication with the people under their leadership. Open communication with their colleagues is also a great way to promote collaboration and employee engagement. Many millennials believe that being able to communicate with their managers empowers them and makes them feel that they are valued.
 

5. Learn from elders' mistakes

Another apparent change that millennials are making in the workplace is paving their way and not always following the old-and-done practices established by the older generation, especially when enforcing diversity and equality. According to the survey from Muse, many millennial managers are keen on correcting their elders' mistakes regarding racial and gender diversity, making the workplace a safe space for everyone. However, most millennial entrepreneurs still look up to their older predecessors regarding acquiring financial growth and effective financial management. Moreover, millennial managers are also open to working with the older generation, even if that means managing older and more experienced employees. Millennials are proving that they can change the status quo of a workplace through their inherent values of trust, communication, and sticking to their moral compasses. While many millennial managers today may have learnt these values from their older managers, it is refreshing to see the younger generation make great strides in improving the workplace. What toxic workplace practices do you wish to change? Tell us in the comments section below.