Business

Millennials soon to have power to force workplace changes, executive coach says

Experts point to the increasing dominance of the millennial generation as a major shift in the workplace.

Posted Updated

By
Renee Chou, WRAL anchor/reporter,
and
Rick Armstrong, WRAL producer
RALEIGH, N.C. — A major generational shift is changing the workplace.

Experts point to the increasing dominance of the millennial generation, people who were born between 1981 and 1996.

Ryan Givens, 29, knows the value of good coaching and great leaders. He played football in high school and college.

In starting his own film business, he discovered a need to grow as a leader, so he turned to Christine Rosier, a certified executive coach, author and speaker.

She said millennials like Givens are more open to help from others.

“They want mentoring and coaching, and they are completely open to being developed and learning,” she said. “That's very important to them.”

Rosier said open workplace environments reflect some millennials' desire to leave secluded offices to collaborate with others.

“I know I don't know it all,” Givens said. “It's just great to be around people who aren't trying to nip at my ankles to try to get to the top, but we can all help each other get there.”

By 2025, Rosier said, millennials are projected to make up 75 percent of the workforce.

They have the power to force changes, like improving work-life balance and putting more emphasis on developing leaders, she said.

“Leaders are leaders because they inspire other people to follow them,” Rosier said.

She says real leaders take “radical responsibility.”

“As a leader, you are responsible,” she said. “It doesn't matter, there is no assigning blame.

Givens said he's working on being more decisive and communicating with more clarity.

“Being able to be clear, precise and patient with people, it's been invaluable,” he said.

Rosier said another marker of millennials in the workplace is that they want more rapid career development, which is why they are hungry for training and mentoring.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.