Generation Z (those born roughly between 1995 and 2015) and Millennials (those born roughly between 1981 and 1994) are set to become the world’s future leaders … and, soon. As you train them, keep this in mind, as well as the five best practices for training them that are mentioned below.
1. Focus on Developing Their Soft Skills
Working professionals from younger generations are most likely going to be more familiar with technology and “hard skills” associated with those technologies, compared to older generations in the workplace. But if they’re going to be effective leaders, they’ll need to focus the most on their communications skills, conflict resolution skills, etc.
For more details and insight, read How to Ease Your Employees’ Communication Anxieties in the Workplace.
2. Provide Them with Frequent Feedback
Younger generations want more feedback in the workplace, especially in-the-moment feedback, regarding how they’re doing and what they’re doing. So, offer them daily feedback or as often as relevant opportunities arise. They will not appreciate waiting for annual performance reviews alone to hear about how they’re doing and what you think of their performance.
3. Prepare Them to Handle Change
Change in the modern-day workplace is inevitable and expected. Whether your organization is planning to implement a new technology platform or change one of its policies, be ready to prepare your future leaders to constantly accept and manage change.
For additional information, read Best Practices: Training Your Employees to Accept/Manage Change.
4. Develop Real and Transparent Relationships with Them
Newer generations in the workplace want more transparency and authentic communications and relationships with brands, as well as with their leaders and peers. They want to know how and why their leadership is making decisions, and they want their voices to be heard and considered, too.
Be sure to transparently build meaningful and authentic relationships with them as you train and develop them.
For more information, review 4 Reasons You Need a Transparent Company Culture and How to Cultivate a Transparent Company Culture.
5. Use Technology to Train and Communicate with Them
The world’s future leaders grew up with the Internet, cloud-based applications and platforms, mobile technology, etc. So, when you train them and communicate with them, use the technology that they’re used to and that makes sense to them. For example, use social learning platforms to keep them engaged and mobile apps that have gamified learning courses and experiences on them.
As you train the world’s future leaders today, be sure to keep the five best practices mentioned above in mind.
To learn more, check out the Workforce L&D preconference session: Leader as Coach: Leadership Development Training. This engaging, highly experiential full-day course is designed for managers, leaders, and influencers who understand the necessity of superior coaching in today’s business ecosystem where leadership development has become everyone’s responsibility. Click here to learn more, or to register today!
