A speaker argues that millennials are optimistic but uncertain about achieving their goals, and that companies should treat young employees like valued customers: with authenticity, genuine care, and real capability. Leaders who adopt this framework will see better retention and performance.
The place where youth and experience intersect is the most special place there is. It's never been different in our society. This is not new news. Old and knowledge and experience transfer information to the innovative youth. They give better feedback, better interesting new perspectives based on who they are that makes us grow and be better. In a world that is changing so, so quickly, and we're going to talk about that, we have a responsibility to continue to do that. Your success as a business leader in this world depends on how you manage, engage, and retain the next generation of employees and customers. Michelle gave you good tips about what they want in their 401. I'm telling you what they really want, and I'm going to tell you the 6 steps to success with them is just that you care, right? Teddy Roosevelt said, "I don't care about how much, how much you know until I know about how much you care." 84% of millennials will tell you that they think life will be fantastic. They're optimists. I'm glad that they're 83 million strong. They're optimists. 76% of them will tell you they have no clue whatsoever how they're going to get there. Zero clue. And by the ripe old age of 35— I know, Kyle, you're 31— but most of them will tell me, "I'm a failure. I didn't get to where I needed to be. I'm not getting there fast enough because of the way—" So look at the world we've created. Who can change that? They can, but we need to be their guides in doing it. In college, we don't teach relationship-building skills. We don't teach how to follow your passion. We don't teach how to be a good human being. We don't teach how to get the real job by interviewing, by making it about others. We don't teach that stuff, right? So in the workforce, we're blaming them for a problem when they get there for things we haven't taught them. And we have a premise at LaunchBox, which is millennial employees want to be treated exactly the way millennial consumers want to be treated like. If you stand for something unique, that they love and respect, they will give you their all. So I'm saying you can bust those 3 years that they'll stay with you if you stand for something great. And if you use this language when coaching them, you're their guide and they love you because they care about capability. Authenticity number 1, capability number 2. Are you teaching me something that I can learn and grow from? If you are, I stay. If you're not, I'm outta here. And good for them, they're right. But it's all about the results. I'm a business guy. I've grown businesses. I promise you, if you employ these things of giving back, you will win. Thank you guys all for your time.
