(Video) Simon Sinek Millennials in the Workplace by Insider Quest
Every business owner comes across the infamous question today, “What’s up with millennials?” Every leader has their own experience and understanding of the millennial generation, but far too many evaluate millennials superficially. Sadly, many don’t take the time to really understand millennials. Simon Sinek’s video on millennials was one of them.
In this video, Simon Sinek answers the “millennial question” in an interview on Inside Quest this last September.
My Critique on Simon Sinek’s Interpretation of Millennials in the Workplace
Everyone has an opinion. Simon Sinek is no different. Sinek has some great books and concepts about business and leadership. However, I believe his evaluation on the millennial generation is slightly short changed. (Then again he did only have 10 minutes.)
Although I do not necessarily disagree with much of what Simon Sinek says in this clip, I believe there needs to be more said. If this was all you heard about millennials, you would have some key elements left out.
What Needed To Be Added
One of the biggest elements missed was millennials’ crucial human development years. What Sinek said could have been applied to anyone living in society today, but he failed to elaborate the importance of millennials’ identity being formed through these transformational years.
Millennials do not only lack soft skills or other skills because of the factors Sinek mentioned. There is more to what he says. Millennials have been shaped in identity and personality through the early 2000s to mid 2010s. While all people are shaping their identities during their teenage and adolescence years, millennials were unable to really shape their identity because of the factors Sinek mentioned plus more.
What we have is an identity crisis. We do NOT have a skill crisis, but a personality and development in identity problem. Millennials are dying to have someone come alongside them to help them figure the world out. To help them figure themselves out. They have been told by media, social media, education, parental figures, and peers who they are or who they are suppose to be.
Businesses now have the opportunity to shape and develop millennials into game-changers in the workplace. It all “Starts With Who.” (Simon Sinek readers get that phrase.) Either a business chooses to accept the responsibility or neglect the responsibility. Whoever jumps up to the responsibility will be the business, leader, or influencer that makes the greatest impact in the next generation of leaders.
Invest in people and development. Invest in the who!
Want to read more about my interpretation of why Simon Sinek’s video on millennials was wrong? Read my article on Huffington Post.
