 |
| Pic source: Unsplash |
Millennials: often described as the
‘instant-gratification-generation’, the multi-tasking individuals who are glued
to their phones and the generation who makes use of different communication
channels, as opposed to their Generation X or Baby Boomer parents. With the
nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are going to be
home-bound. For businesses to remain functional to some degree, it is crucial
to optimise the virtual office space. There have been many negative connotations
to the Millennial generation, but for once, we can learn something from their
communication style and preferences.
Millennials are individuals aged between 25 to
39 years of age. Their parents are usually classified as Baby Boomers (aged 55
and older) or Generation X (aged between 40 and 54). Numerous academic articles have confirmed
that the older generations view Millennials as individuals who are
overconfident, requires constant praise and are generally seen as high
maintenance. Chanell Kemp, a reputation specialist at Reputation Matters, who
completed her Masters dissertation on the topic, says that now is the ideal
time to take a page from the Millennial communication book.
Here are five preferences that characterise
Millennial communication that can be used during lock down and working from a
virtual office space:
Topic:
Millennials prefer communication to be brief
but meaningful and engaging. Provide
enough detail but keep it to the point and stay positive. “When in lockdown, we
should focus on staying positive and energised during the pandemic. Keeping the
communication brief and meaningful mean that it is more likely to be read,
especially as there is a lot of social commentary from all angles at the moment,”
says Kemp.
Medium: Millennials prefer texting and sending WhatsApp’s as the
most preferred medium for communication. Their phones are often described as
their greatest asset. During the lockdown, mobile phones will also be one of
the biggest assets for organisations and friendships. Organisations can use
mobile phones to conduct meetings and instead of having a get-togethers over
weekends, friends are already communicating and sharing their favourite
beverages using WhatsApp groups or Facetime apps.
Time: Millennials function on a 24/7 cycle and they like to have
all the information, all the time, regardless of business hours. “Organisations
are currently saving on travel time, but strong measures should be put in place
to ensure that employees don’t fall into a 24/7 work schedule,” warns Kemp.
This brings us to the fourth communication preference, respect. Millennials
prefer to feel respected when older generations are communicating with them.
The entire world is influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we should not only
communicate in a respectful manner, but also respect the measures that the
Government put in place to protect businesses and limit the spread of this
virus through complying with the lockdown rules.
Finally, Millennials focus on communication
with meaning. Millennials have a strong sense of responsibility for the
contribution towards the “greater good” and committing to the social bottom
line. “Although the COVID-19 virus has an enormous impact on the global
economy, we should focus on the messages we spread and how we communicate in a
time like this,” says Kemp. “It is crucial to remain positive, comply with the
measures that Government have set in place and keep your workforce motivated. We
should also ensure that we spread the correct messages, information and statistics
and steer clear of fake news. Now is the time to stand together, empower and
inform your workforce in order to equip them for this lockdown.” concludes
Kemp.
For
more information on Reputation Matters and to measure your reputation, contact research@reputationmatters.co.za
or visit www.reputationmatters.co.za. Follow Reputation Matters on Facebook
(@yourreputationmatters) or Twitter (@ReputationIsKey).
###
No comments:
Post a Comment