Skip to main content

Mandela's Message to Millennials

To mark the birthday of Nelson Mandela, Google has created a Doodle made of his most famous quotes.

What if millennials were to act upon the fact that:

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will define the significance the life we have lived".

The word that catches is "significance" as opposed to successful. It speaks to aspiration not ambition. It is perhaps why personal development reviews are such an unsatisfying aspect of working life. It doesn't invite expansive thinking.

If the millennial impact on the workplace were to include personal significance, what would organisational life look and feel like?

Use the tools for establishing empathy suggested in Millennial Leaders Will Change Organisations - Where to Start? to expand your thinking about organisational life under millennial leadership.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Millennials - Be Dazzling

I loved the time I worked solely with Millennials . They were dazzling, fabulous and fizzing with potential. The fact is, your confidence irritates the older generation. They'd rather define you as the problem than confront what sucks in their life. So, before you are buried beneath the weight of criticism, reflect upon your experiences of being shut down and ask why it was. Start to observe how every day, acts of belittlement stifle the possibility of change ... I want you to understand that fear motivates the belittlement you face.  The purpose of this blog is to share what I've learnt over the years so that you, Millennials , become the generation who allow "[g]reat work is done by people who are not afraid to be great."   –Fernando Flores

Tip For Millennials To Empower Yourself

When confronted with bad leadership, it is easy to conclude that it will never change and leave. Employees interpret it as a problem of Millennial retention.  After all  Millennials,  were raised with mutual respect and you expected the workplace to be the same people.  If reality doesn't live up to hype of recruitment and  you feel ill equipped - don't   quit  or find creative ways to vent your frustrations via social media.   Continue your mapping exercise. Use the experience to see managers and colleagues as a product of past management fashions and change failures and you'll discover another aspect of buried resentments.  Speak to long serving colleagues about the craziness that predates Millennials entry into the workplace. Understand the bewildering shifts in direction colleagues and managers have endured. The impact of failure on relationships, performance etc. is profound. The more you understand, the deeper your ...

Tackle the Stereotypes of Millennials

Navigating a hierarchy is fraught with challenges, especially if you are new and a Millennial .  When speaking to managers and colleagues, avoid making yourself appear even more junior, entitled or betray your insecurity.  Give away phrases include: Does that make sense? t ells the listener that you don't fully understand the idea yourself.   "What are your thoughts?" is more inclusive Actually,  as in, "Actually, it's right over there" hints that they were somehow wrong.  Rephrase to create a more positive sentiment. Remember, as a Millennial you are perceived as young and inexperienced .  Just , such as saying "I just want to check if ..." can detract from what you're saying. It sounds defensive, a little whiny, and tentative. Omit them and you'll speak with more authority. Make countering the stereotype of   Millennial   a daily activity. "I may be wrong, but..."   reduces the impact of whatever you're about ...