Independent Banker - March 2018 - 52

How to lead millennials
Leaders work to bridge the age gap.
Bank leaders are adapting their skills to meet the
demands of a diverse workforce that comprises baby
boomers, Gen Xers and millennials, as well as the leading
edge of Generation Z that has just turned 22.
Leaders do have to fine-tune some of their leadership
to the " three Gs " : gender, generational and global (or
cultural) differences, says Kit Welchlin of Welchlin Communication
Strategies. Specific to age differences, there
are some expectations or assumptions that those generations
have about the workplace. Being aware of those
differences helps leaders make minor adjustments to be
more effective for individual employees, he says.
The millennial generation has been a key focus for
good reason. By 2020, millennials will represent half of
the global workforce. " The biggest challenge with that is
that people stereotype, " says speaker and author Jennifer
B. Kahnweiler. " So, the first thing you have to do is
check yourself for biases. "
That being said, there are behavior traits and values
that are common among different generations. Millennials
and Generation Z have grown up with technology,
smartphones and social media, so they do communicate
differently. The younger generations are highly educated,
but they have been educated differently than their older
peers on everything from the " new math " to more emphasis
on collaboration and group projects.
Often, millennial employees have different career
expectations. Research has shown that more than 70
percent already worry about work-life balance. They
are more comfortable moving from job to job for both
professional and personal reasons. Millennials want to
feel valued and appreciated. So, it is important from day
50 ICBA Independent Banker March 2018
one that leaders let them know they are welcomed and
valued, notes Welchlin.
Banks can benefit from combining the wisdom and
work experience of an older workforce with the technology
and social media experience of a younger workforce.
" As a leader, it is important to instill mutual respect for
the range of voices
in the workforce, "
says Teri Williams of
OneUnited Bank. " Our
customers and the
communities we serve
also include a range
of generations, which
we also need to connect
with and serve,
so it helps to have
different perspectives
internally. "
One mistake is
going overboard in
making adjustments
to accommodate different
generations.
At the end of the day,
people across generations
generally want
the same thing, says
Welchlin. They want to work with a leader they can be
proud of and where there is mutual respect, and to have
support and autonomy to meet their own career goals.
- Beth Mattson-Teig
" As a leader, it is
important to instill
mutual respect for
the range of voices
in the workforce.
Our customers and
the communities we
serve also include a
range of generations
... so it helps to
have different perspectives
internally. "
-TERI WILLIAMS,
ONEUNITED BANK
Independent Banker - March 2018

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