5 Ways Millennials Are Improving the Workplace

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Millennials: The words that come to mind are often unflattering — lazy, entitled, spoiled —kids who expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. So you might be surprised to learn that Millennials are changing the face and shape of work for the better.

You see, it turns out that, despite the negative qualities attributed to the Y-Generation, Millennials are also the risk-takers among us, the ones who are passionate about making a better world. They don’t want to settle for a ‘good job’. They strive to blend their passions with their work, and that’s what makes them top-notch employees.

Here are 5 ways that Millennial workers are changing (or set to change) the way work is done—for the better!

1. Blurred Lines

Work-life balance? What’s that? Millennials don’t care—nor do they want it. Rather, they crave meaning. They want their work hours to be just as exciting and substantial as their non-work life by doing what they’re passionate about. They don’t just work the jobs of old. They live a way of life, making a difference with every time-punch toward a greater good. And they love it.

2. Empowered employees

In the old hierarchical system of work, every employee had his place and bounds. Everyone knew only as much information as they needed to get the job done, and if problems arose, they took it to their supervisors. Millennials, in their streamlined, take-control kind of way, believe that every team member should be empowered with knowledge that allows them to not just ‘do their job’ but go above and beyond at every opportunity, without having to run to a superior.

3. Results-focused

For Millennials, productivity isn’t a matter of hours logged. Rather, it’s a matter of seeing results. They have a clear, goal-filled vision and they do whatever it takes (ethically) to make it happen. A need for results makes them more entrepreneurial than their older counterparts.

4. Faster, Keener Communication

Raised on a diet of digital communication and social media, Millennials have a keen insight into how Gen Y communicates, and how best to get their attention in external communications. Internally, their ability to juggle the seemingly endless array of technology and apps helps make workplace communication more efficient by ditching the emails and hours of meetings for more streamlined instant messaging or video conferencing. With a greater number of remote workers than ever before, communication technology is helping teams unite across borders and time zones, and keep people on the same pages.

5. Open Collaboration

The old office is passé. Cubicles are out and collaboration is in. Millennials, with their passion for getting things done, are tearing down traditional ideas of hierarchy in favor of open communication and collaboration. The goal is, after all, getting things done, is it not?

Baby Boomers and other generations can say what they like, but the results are undeniable. The Millennial shift is happening, and, despite what naysayers might say, is making the workplace a better place.