The Millennial generation is the largest in history, and they have caused a lot of change in society. In this article, you will learn more about how Millennials are impacting society, and seven ways that older generations can try to make Millennials feel their age.
How Do You Define Old?
Millennials are often called “the generation of entitlement” and it’s no secret why. They grew up in a time when everything was given to them – free college, free healthcare, and a cushy job with good pay. As a result, millennials have come to expect things from everyone around them without having to work for it.
While some of this entitled behavior is warranted – after all, millennials did grow up in an era of relative prosperity – there’s also a lot of negative side effects to being so entitled. For one, millennials can be incredibly selfish and take advantage of others. They also tend to be shortsighted and don’t always appreciate the unique opportunities that their parents or older generations may have had.
So how do you deal with someone who is constantly asking for favors and not giving anything back in return? Here are seven ways millennials can make everyone else feel old:
1) Give more than you ask for. When millennial asks for something from others, they often don’t give anything back in return. This can be frustrating for those who are trying to help out, as it creates an imbalance where the person asking always comes out ahead. Instead of asking for things , be more generous. Help out with a friend or family member who is moving and ask if you can help them get their stuff moved across town without charging them anything. Service and generosity can go a long way in showing millennial that there are people who will help them out when they need it most, as well as make them feel important.
2) Make your opinions public. There’s nothing wrong with sharing your opinion on something, whenever you have the time to do so, but millennials tend to take such things too personally and often overstate their case with friends and acquaintances in order to prove themselves right or show off how smart they are. Instead of constantly putting yourself out there for people to judge, keep certain opinions private for now instead of constantly engaging your friends and acquaintances to think differently and try to change their minds.
3) Be patient with them. Millennials tend to be very optimistic in the belief that they can and will find a job, even if it’s not within the first week. Instead of nagging or belittling them for having such unrealistic expectations, help them realize why it’s taking so long for things to fall into place. There are a lot of reasons why millennials have such high hopes, but one major problem is that many of them simply don’t know where/how to look for jobs these days, so their efforts should be directed towards informing themselves instead of pressuring others who are trying to do the same thing.
4) Give certain tasks purely technical nature or focus solely on one’s strengths. It would be a shame if someone with aptitude in graphic design worked at a call center selling cell phones and those with computer science degrees worked as security guards. We all have different skillsets, but that doesn’t mean that everyone can’t find work doing the things they are good at, so it’s important to look at career paths that highlight and enhance one’s strengths without neglecting their weaknesses. For example, if you’re an excellent typographer who understands how to use type-specific fonts but can’t draw well, it may not be possible to get your foot in the door working for a graphic design agency because most clients prefer art directors over designers who lack superb artistic ability. If you don’t know how to code , your best career choice may be to pursue a position within the IT field where you can learn the necessary skillset by self-study (or ask an experienced coder to teach you). If you’re unable to do something that others can do, then it’s important to seek out work that suits your particular strengths.
Millennial Attitudes to Aging
Millennials have a unique perspective on aging. They’re often the first generation to experience both the highs and lows of life, and they’ve learned a lot about themselves and the world around them. Here are seven ways millennials can make everyone else feel old:
1. Respect older people’s experiences and memories. Millennials often have a fresh perspective on life, based on their own experiences and memories. They respect older people’s experiences and memories, which can make them more understanding and tolerant of other generations.
2. Don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Many millennials are fearless explorers, looking for new ways to think about and approach life. They’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, which can make others feel uncomfortable or outdated.
3. Be aware of your words and actions. Millennials are often vocal about their opinions, feelings, and beliefs. They want others to respect their opinions, so they should be careful about the words they use and the actions they take.
4. Be open-minded about change. Many millennials are excited about the opportunities that come with change – including changes related to aging. They’re open-minded about changes in technology, social media, and other aspects of society.
5. Be self-aware. Millennials are often more aware of and interested in themselves than in others. They are often excellent listeners and can be great mentors to others.
6. Don’t take yourself too seriously, or too seriously at all!
7. Take responsibility for who you are and what you do – which means think about your choices, consider their effects on others, and be willing to change when necessary (and deserve credit for doing so).
8. Have integrity – you keep promises, don’t steal other people’s ideas and work products, treat others as you’d want to be treated, etc. “You know how I feel about the ‘Generation Y’ moniker: I see it as a way of deriding a group of people who are not as cynical or materialistic as the Baby Boomers; this group is also open to new ways of thinking. They want to feel good about themselves, and they don’t need to be reminded that they’re young.”
9. Be a “strong” person – strong in your beliefs, strong enough to stand alone, strong enough to make choices for yourself and stick with them, and strong enough to handle the consequences (good & bad).
10. Be a results-oriented person – not just someone who wants you to see their point of view and then provides “proof” for your decision.
Ageism and the Millennial Generation
Millennials are commonly labeled as the “generation of entitlement”. But is this really fair? Granted, millennials may have come of age during a time when the world has been made increasingly accessible to them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to share in the responsibilities and duties that come with adulthood.
Here are seven ways millennials can make everyone else feel old:
1. Set an example for others by living a healthy lifestyle. The average American spends over 50% of their life sitting, and millennials are no exception. Make sure you get up and move around every now and then – it will help you stay young and motivated!
2. Don’t be afraid to speak up when you see something wrong. Millennials are often seen as passive, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a voice – they just need to be careful not to use it too much. When you see an injustice happening, don’t be afraid to stand up and say something – it might not make a difference at first, but it will build momentum over time.
3. Do your research before you make any decisions. It ’s easy to think that you know better than your manager or co-workers, but you’d be surprised how often this leads to poor work product. Before you jump into a project, look it up online and make sure it’s not already been done before.
4. Be involved in the community at your workplace. You wouldn’t go to a job where you didn’t want to help out with the community, so why would you do it at a company? Companies are big enough that they need as much help as they can get – when you volunteer or get involved with events at your place of work, everyone will notice!
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for help with a project, and it will go a long way to make you look more skilled and knowledgeable in the eyes of your manager and co-workers.
6. Give back to your community by volunteering at another charitable organization when you’re not busy! This is a great way to gain experience in the field, meet new people, and give back – all things you would be doing even if you were employed.
7. Do what you love, not what you think is expected of you! If you know that this career is perfect for your personal values and interests, then do it on your own time!
The Seven Ways Millennials Make Everyone Else Feel Old
1. They think nothing of changing the subject or leaving a conversation when they get bored.
2. They expect everyone to be on their phone all the time.
3. They take everything literally and can be quite dense at times.
4. They are always up for new experiences and love trying out different things.
5. They’re impatient and can’t sit still for very long.
6. They’re often critical of others, even if they don’t mean to be.
7. They’re not afraid to speak their minds and express themselves freely, which can sometimes come across as rude or ungrateful.
Conclusion
Millennials have a reputation for being entitled and always looking to be the first to have everything. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also be compassionate, helpful, and resourceful. In fact, by taking a little time to understand how older generations think and work, millennials can help make everyone else feel a little more comfortable in their own skin. Here are seven ways millennials can help make everyone else feel old:
1. Let them know you’re listening—Millennials love talking about themselves, but they’ll listen even more if you actually take the time to hear what they’re saying. So take some notes during your conversations with millennials and really pay attention to what they’re saying instead of just nodding along like you always do.
2. Be prepared with facts—Not all Gen Xers are as tech-savvy as millennials, so it’s important not to offend them by trying to explain concepts like blockchain or AI in too much detail. If you want to show your respect for their age and knowledge, it’s best to keep it simple.
3. Keep the dialogue friendly—Millennials want to hear from you, but they don’t want to feel like they’re being lectured or talked down too much. If you are going to communicate with them, make sure that all your messages keep a conversational tone, not an authoritative one.
4. Watch out for the social media links—A lot of people have no idea how inherently dangerous social media can be if you let your guard down. Avoid posting links on social media that could be potentially embarrassing or embarrassing in nature (like Facebook photos of other people).
5. Give millennials a voice—If help is needed in any way, ask millennials directly how you can better reach them. A lot of the times, they’ll have no idea that there is an audience out there for their opinions, but it will always make sense to them—so ask! Asking for feedback from millennials is a great way to make your brand or product relevant to the younger generation.
