The early 2000s saw the internet flooded with a series of articles debating millennials’ significance in the current workplace.
The majority of the arguments favored the inclusion of millennials in the leadership role of the workforce.
However, the last decade has seen a drastic change. It no longer makes sense to debate about millennials on the ground of workplace leadership roles because their age is already way out of the millennial league.
In fact, most have clocked 40 or in their late 30s.
Today’s millennials can relate to the struggle of the great recession and the post-graduate job hunt.
Even in the face of obscurity, not only have millennials survived but also thrived in their respective careers. Thanks to the acquisition of specific skills that placed them on top of their career.
Check out 5 skills millennial aspiring leadership roles should possess
1. Emotional intelligence
The World is changing, so is the meaning of emotional intelligence at the workplace (also called “the other smart”).
As opposed to popular belief, many studies have found that high IQ, which is the hallmark of traditional intelligence, may not always guarantee quality performance at the workplace. Four core skills, which are the pillars of emotional intelligence, are needed for effective leadership and organizational success. Check them out.
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is about knowing and completely understanding your emotions.
Self-management
Being aware of your emotion helps you direct it towards positivity.
Also, with self-awareness, you can positively control the emotions of others.
Social awareness
This consequently boosts social competence and the ability to stay ahead of any situation.
Relationship management
Relating with staff and engaging customers becomes a walk in the park once you’re aware of your emotions.
If you already possess these four skills, that’s fine. If not, you can still develop emotional intelligence.
The brain is programmed to learn and adapt to new concepts.
Emotional intelligence supports the millennial’s leadership role of being empathic with people, coming up with solutions in unfavorable circumstances, and inspiring the team for growth.
It also helps you identify people with corresponding emotional intelligence to partner with for team and business growth.
2. Nimble behavior
What strikes your mind when you hear the term ” Nimble behavior” – entrepreneurship.
Simply put, Nimble behavior is about being fluid and flexible.
Millennial understand how Nimble behavior in the workplace works – knowing when to stick to the guns and when to tread another path.
For instance, when everything goes out of proportion, like in the pandemic, customers need changes. So it’s unreasonable to pretend as if nothing happened.
Millennials who worked during the pandemic would recall multiple times when they had to switch their existing process for a solution.
They understand that embracing the current uncertainty and staying calm is one of the ways to get through uncertain times.
Understanding how to delete a plan completely and drawing up another entirely different strategy with the team is a fantastic skill to master as a leader.
3. Authority establishment
Regardless of age, millennials should master the strategies of establishing authority within the workplace. By maintaining a positive attitude of being vocal and present at the workplace, millennials can begin to establish credibility and authority even if they have little experience of the role.
4. Asking for help
Identifying loopholes within one’s capability is critical to attaining a leadership role.
All bosses have areas where they’re flawed; how they managed these areas separated the best from the rest.
Every great leader always asks for help when necessary, disregarding all forms of pride.
In a nutshell, while it is admirable to aspire for success, asking for help will make you reach your goals faster.
5. Identifying admirable leadership traits
Do you have someone or a boss you admire character-wise? What qualities inspire you about them? Strive hard to acquire these traits because those qualities might be what splurged them to the leadership position. Carefully study the steps they took to develop this trait. If you’re opportune, communicate with them on other secret steps they took to attain this height. And you can always level-up with training.
Summary
Today, Millennials make up the largest workforce population. So, it’s right about the time this population understands that the path to leadership in the workplace is heading toward becoming their responsibility.
As a millennial, be prepared to lead with empathy, passion, and solution-oriented.
And lastly, hard work will pave the way for your continuous growth as a leader, pushing your team and organization to become the very best.
