I have always preached that too much is made about Gen X vs. Gen Y in the world of work. Generalizing an entire generation, regardless of when they were born, is totally unfair. One can easily sit back and accuse Gen X of being a bunch of anxiety-ridden control freaks who spend too much time sulking and complaining about work at Happy Hour. Or that Baby Boomers are technologically irrelevant and should be forced into early retirement (or at least coerced to take some social media classes!). It might not be right, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to write about.
Here are several annoying things that Millenials seem to have in common.
– “Did you get my e-mail?” – As a member of society who has grown up with computers and the Internet, you know damn well that there’s a 99.9% that I received your e-mail. The question is, have I had time to read it yet? The answer is no. So cool your jets and go back to your desk and read TechCrunch until I’m ready for you.
– Too many details on personal life – Let’s face it, when we ask “How was your weekend?” we have no interest in the answer. For whatever reason, this generation of transparency thinks we care that they saw Joe and Jill at the Gym Class Heroes show.
– More practice, less preach. From yoga to tofu, mass transit to creative license, those who really feel good about what they are doing on a personal level do not have to share it with others – let alone their co-workers. I’ve noticed a whole lot of holistic talk, but not a lot of action to back it up.
– Sorry, everything is NOT great. I appreciate your positive, ‘can-do’ attitude. But if we’re going to be honest, your phony smile and willingness to swallow a lot more crap than previous generations is quite annoying, and it forces other people to adapt to conditions that might not be acceptable to them (smaller raises, cramped working conditions, etc.). We’re not a union, but there is a ‘way’ we do things.
– Goooo team! There might not be an “I” in team, but well-educated individuals are sometimes expected to conduct work on their own, sans group. There need not be a brainstorming orgy for every task.
– Learn to monotask. Gen Y is jack of all trades but master of none. You can’t be great at everything. So spend some time reflecting on what you excel at and concentrate on it. Your opinion is sometimes appreciated but not always necessary. Use good judgment before running your yapper.
What are Millenials doing at your office that’s driving you bonkers?
Related:
– How Can Gen Y Quit Annoying Gen “Old” at Work?
– When Gen Y Just Doesn’t Fit In
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