Written by Leily Rezvani, Co-Editor-in-Chief
More often than not, millennials are misunderstood. They have been categorized as clueless and not driven. Author Simon Sinek categorized them as people “trying to make an impact on the world in yoga pants.” However, others believe they use social media for social change, creating an inclusive community whereas past generations have marginalized communities. These accusations prompt discussion about whether or not millennials are contributing to society as much as previous generations. Yet, it is worth examining how millennials have positively impacted society through the workforce and politics.
Millennials have had a positive impact on the companies they have worked for, which is greatly worth examining. Jim Moffatt, Chairman and CEO of Deloitte, outlined seven ways millennials have contributed to the workforce. Moffatt finds the first one to be, “Millennials love to tinker and they are incredibly disciplined about innovation.” In fact, a study conducted by Deloitte found that sixty-percent of millennials believe innovation and creativity can be taught, repeated, and learned. Secondly, millennials think companies should be able to profit off of society if their product or service benefits society and does so in an ethical manner. Therefore, they work well with company management. Thirdly, Moffatt says “In a Reason magazine survey, 55 percent of millennials say they’d like to start their own business one day and 61 percent say hard work is the key to success. [Deloitte’s] own survey showed that roughly” Many millennials have an entrepreneurial mindset that can help solve global issues both on a smaller and larger scale. Next, a Pew Center study found that, in comparison to gen Xers and baby boomers at the same stage in their lifespans, millennials have higher rates of student loan debt, and also lower levels of personal wealth. Thus, they are motivated to work harder. Moreover, according to the Deloitte survey, sixty-three percent of millennials find that the largest barriers in companies are management attitude while sixty-one-percent believe they are operational structures and procedures. This benefits the management since they, too, disagree with bureaucracy. Similarly, a Case Foundation study found that more millennials believe in the mission of the company they are working with and will persevere with that company through adversity. In turn, this increases positive company culture and aids those purposes in becoming fulfilled. Lastly, the Deloitte survey also found that one in four millennials are yearning to take on a leadership role at work and half of millennials believe in improving the workplace for the leaders of tomorrow to create a sustainable future. All in all, millennials are contributing more to the workforce than they are receiving credit for.
Not only are millennials greatly contributing to the workforce, but they are also greatly contributing to the political climate. At the age of nineteen, Alaa Basatneh, a Chicago native of Syrian descent, changed what we know of now as the Syrian Revolution. Using Facebook and Twitter, Basatneh spread awareness about the brutality of the Syrian government and gathered protesters in Syria from her bedroom in Chicago. In an interview with the Chicago Times, Basatneh said her motivation for advocacy was that she wants “the kids to grow up in a country where they have a top-notch education and freedom and democracy.” Millennials are using social media and a platform for social change. This is just one of many examples of how millennials are positively shaping the political climate, something that is misunderstood by even some who belong to the generational group.
Works Cited
Written by Leily Rezvani
More often than not, millennials are misunderstood. They have been categorized as clueless and not driven. Author Simon Sinek categorized them as people “trying to make an impact on the world in yoga pants.” However, others believe they use social media for social change, creating an inclusive community whereas past generations have marginalized communities. These accusations prompt discussion about whether or not millennials are contributing to society as much as previous generations. Yet, it is worth examining how millennials have positively impacted society through the workforce and politics.
Millennials have had a positive impact on the companies they have worked for, which is greatly worth examining. Jim Moffatt, Chairman and CEO of Deloitte, outlined seven ways millennials have contributed to the workforce. Moffatt finds the first one to be, “Millennials love to tinker and they are incredibly disciplined about innovation.” In fact, a study conducted by Deloitte found that sixty-percent of millennials believe innovation and creativity can be taught, repeated, and learned. Secondly, millennials think companies should be able to profit off of society if their product or service benefits society and does so in an ethical manner. Therefore, they work well with company management. Thirdly, Moffatt says “In a Reason magazine survey, 55 percent of millennials say they’d like to start their own business one day and 61 percent say hard work is the key to success. [Deloitte’s] own survey showed that roughly” Many millennials have an entrepreneurial mindset that can help solve global issues both on a smaller and larger scale. Next, a Pew Center study found that, in comparison to gen Xers and baby boomers at the same stage in their lifespans, millennials have higher rates of student loan debt, and also lower levels of personal wealth. Thus, they are motivated to work harder. Moreover, according to the Deloitte survey, sixty-three percent of millennials find that the largest barriers in companies are management attitude while sixty-one-percent believe they are operational structures and procedures. This benefits the management since they, too, disagree with bureaucracy. Similarly, a Case Foundation study found that more millennials believe in the mission of the company they are working with and will persevere with that company through adversity. In turn, this increases positive company culture and aids those purposes in becoming fulfilled. Lastly, the Deloitte survey also found that one in four millennials are yearning to take on a leadership role at work and half of millennials believe in improving the workplace for the leaders of tomorrow to create a sustainable future. All in all, millennials are contributing more to the workforce than they are receiving credit for.
Not only are millennials greatly contributing to the workforce, but they are also greatly contributing to the political climate. At the age of nineteen, Alaa Basatneh, a Chicago native of Syrian descent, changed what we know of now as the Syrian Revolution. Using Facebook and Twitter, Basatneh spread awareness about the brutality of the Syrian government and gathered protesters in Syria from her bedroom in Chicago. In an interview with the Chicago Times, Basatneh said her motivation for advocacy was that she wants “the kids to grow up in a country where they have a top-notch education and freedom and democracy.” Millennials are using social media and a platform for social change. This is just one of many examples of how millennials are positively shaping the political climate, something that is misunderstood by even some who belong to the generational group.
Works Cited
- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/millennials-and-their-societal-impac
- https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/undefined/sites/erikaandersen/2016/12/09/how-millenials-will-save-the-world-part-i/
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242155
- http://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-chicago-area-activist-invited-to-the-state-of-the-union-20160108-story.html
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jared-buckley/why-simon-sineks-video-on_b_14008492.html
Written by Leily Rezvani