Five ways to better engage with millennials

With millennials comprising almost half the workforce, organisations are now proactively seeking to engage better with these employees. Brinda Dasgupta finds out from experts that changing the outlook towards regular office timings, workstations, feedback and work styles are some of the ways to go about this endeavour.


Focus on Feedback


Millennials thrive on feedback and like to be updated on their progress and possible areas of improvement. “Help to define shorter milestones that will help millennials achieve ‘quick wins’. Don’t wait till the end of the year to give feedback as this makes millennials restless,” says Sandyp Bhattacharya, head of human resources at Mahindra Comviva.

Interactive Communication

Millennials are often referred to as ‘digital natives’, having grown up with Internet, computers, smartphones and social media. “They expect instant access to information, so discussion forums, messaging boards and instant messaging can be instrumental in this purpose,” says Sameer Khanna, head of HR at Ericsson India.

Have the Right Culture

Company culture is significant when it comes to driving better engagement with millennials. “Keep an open culture with a ‘why not’ mindset rather than a ‘why’ attitude. This will allow for innovation and constructive dissidence,” says Bhattacharya.

Interactions with Leadership

Millennials tend to be quite confident in their interactions and don’t like invisible barriers between themselves and company leadership. “Informal lunches with CEOs and meetings with leaders from other sites in a non-office environment can drive better engagement levels for millennials,” says Rohit Sandal, HR director at Lenovo India.

Provide Benefits

Some benefits will help drive deeper engagement with millennials. “Flexible working policies and casual dress codes can go a long way in helping millennials feel comfortable at the workplace because they do not conform to strict rules,” says Lenovo’s Sandal. Ericsson’s Khanna says, “A fun, employee-centred workplace will help millennials enjoy their work and stay energised.”