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Are We Ready For Communal Workspaces?

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(As featured on Monster.ca)

It’s the era of the communal workspace, and we’re just living in it.

You might have noticed a proliferation of coworking spaces in the past decade. Perhaps you’ve seen them advertised on your Facebook feed, or your hip former colleague works in one.

Coworking spaces, also known as communal workspaces, started popping up in big American cities in the mid-2000s, as more people became self-employed either as freelancers or startup founders, explains The Atlantic article, “As Coworking Spaces Scale, Can They Keep Their Communal Vibe?”

The economic downturn led to companies replacing full-time employees with contractors, while others in the workforce chose the freelance route to free themselves of their regular “9 to 5”, corporate jobs.

According to SmallBizLabs.com, coworking spaces are getting more and more popular. Recent studies predict that coworking memberships are poised to grow about 40 percent per year to reach 1 million members globally by 2018.

 Cubicle vs. Shared Office Space

 The days of the four-walled cubicle are no longer relevant. That era is perfectly represented by the Dilbert comics of the late ‘80s, which poked fun at corporate life and the typical micromanaged office.

Cubicles are becoming an antiquated concept, much like fax machines and the Rolodex. Let’s be real: the cat or dog posters with inspirational quotes often found hanging on cubicle walls can’t even save them from their sterile nature!

Instead of cubicles, today’s freelancers and startup / small business employees can work in beautifully decorated co-working spaces, featuring cool decor, lounge areas, conference rooms, unlimited fresh coffee, long desks for people to share, while enjoying the benefits of collaborative working.

Keep in mind that when referring to coworking spaces, I’m not simply referring to an open-air office — it’s describing people from various different companies working in the same shared space. Some of the more popular ones today include WeWork (they have over 20 locations spread out amongst the U.S., Europe, Israel, and recently launched their first spot in Canada, with a Montreal location) and Regus (one of the original “virtual office” space providers, and admittedly more of a flex office space than a communal workspace), which is currently in seven Canadian provinces.

WeWork is more representative of the hip, inviting, collaborative, and “community” vibes that today’s coworking spaces are all about. There’s a long list of these kinds of communal workspaces, such as NeueHouse (which has outposts in NYC, LA and London), Spring Place (which is an upscale workspace and membership club, with a location in NYC and more to come in cities like LA, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Hong Kong) and Buro, currently in four locations in Miami, an important hub for independent contractors.

The rise of coworking spaces begs the question: is this the new standard in office culture? And are these types of open-air, communal spaces improving workplace productivity?

Let’s examine the benefits and (possible) disadvantages of communal workspaces.

The good

 It leads to networking opportunities

Business contacts are literally at your fingertips — or more specifically, sitting across from you. When you work in a coworking space, you’re surrounded by like-minded individuals, and you become part of a creative community. This is one of the main selling points that communal workspaces drive home: magical things can happen when chatting with people over coffee!

I spoke with Jed Wexler, CEO and Director of Strategy at 818 Agency, a full-service B2B content marketing agency, about his experience in a coworking space in NYC: “People come to a coworking space to be around other people. When starting a new business, your vision quest can sometimes be a lonely endeavor until it takes off — it’s nice to come to work every day knowing that everyone understands and supports your hustle, your desire to architect your own life.”

Wexler continues: “Networking is huge, as long as you make the most of it. As with any type of networking, you have to be able to explain what you do succinctly so the people you network with can easily understand what you do and can then sell you to other people. We’ve met so many talented people where we are — we met our website developer in our space and now work on tons of projects together.”

Organic networking at its best!

 It boosts creativity

According to an article in Fast Company, 71 percent of participants reported a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space, while 62 percent said their standard of work had improved. (This stat is from Deskmag’s annual Global Coworking Survey).

Fast Company also included this stat from Deskmag: 90 percent of people in a coworking space said they got a boost of self-confidence, likely because their working environment cultivates creative collaboration.

It makes work-life balance possible

Thankfully, there seems to have been a shift in corporate thinking, from a “punch in, punch out” office culture, to a “get things done” / output mentality. According to the aforementioned Fast Company article, coworking or virtual offices make it possible for office workers to have “flex space” to hold meetings or get work done on the road. Regus is renowned for offering temporary spaces for employees of companies like Google, Amazon, and other Fortune 500 companies.

I can’t mention “flex office space” without giving a shout-out to Breather. The innovative app offers on-demand space, with a range of meeting rooms in buildings and even cafes, for office workers or freelancers to either “take a breather” while on the road, hold a collaborative work session or meet with prospective clients.

 It includes tech support

An amazing part of communal workspace membership is the built-in tech support you get. No need to deal with troubleshooting or trying to hook up your wireless printer.

 It’s great for your image

Just like that, as part of a communal workspace, you get a corporate address, access to conference rooms, and a front desk greeting visitors and prospective clients. So you’re automatically perceived as more professional. Boom.

It’s an easy way for a company to test a new market

Some companies are renting out desks in virtual or coworking spaces rather than investing in permanent office space, when penetrating a new market. It’s an effective and cautious way to expand before going full-force.

It offers built-in workshops / training  

Some coworking spaces even develop their own newsletters, with original branded content to help keep members in the know, as explained by 818 Agency. For example, WeWork’s magazine is called “Creator” and focuses on education, while NeueHouse develops “NeueJournal,” a source of innovative creative news featuring the best of art, fashion and culture. This is amazing added value – talk about priceless marketing!

The bad:

 It can be distracting

Maybe there’s a reason a cubicle has walls? In an open office concept, you become privy to random conversations (the guy in front of you is breaking up with his girlfriend and the two programmers by the foosball table are having a major “Aha” moment). All you know is, you have a deadline looming and you’re starting to stress out.

Jed Wexler of 818 continues: “Noise-canceling earphones/headphones are the new cubicle. We can self-isolate yet still be connected to our crowd!” Put some on when it’s crunchtime.

 It makes privacy difficult

If you’re meeting prospective new clients or shareholders, you won’t have privacy in these kinds of spaces, unless you book a conference room.

 It can feel lonely

Turns out that even being amongst other people can make you feel lonely if you don’t know any of them. And it can be intimidating if you’re a freelancer working on your own. Moreover, if everyone is wearing noise-canceling headphones, then you actually don’t talk to anyone!

 It can be pricey

As an independent freelancer, the monthly investment of working in a coworking space can get costly, especially if you need to pay for daily parking. But if the contracts and networking opportunities are worthwhile, then it’s definitely interesting — and beats working at your local coffee shop every day!

 The takeaway

The pros certainly outweigh the cons when it comes to a co-working space.

The amazing thing about being part of a shared office space is that you’re surrounded by likeminded people who are pursuing their passion – whether as a freelancer or start-up.

Not being part of one might make you feel like you’re missing the boat — especially if you’re following their accounts on Instagram. (This can be quite #FOMO inducing!)

When it comes to choosing the right coworking space for you or your company, it comes down to personal preference and your needs. So much like when looking for a home, visit as many spots in your city and trust your gut — when it feels like “the one,” you’ll know.

 As for the traditional cubicle?

 Jed Wexler says it best: “I’ve yet to meet anyone who has been happy working in a traditional cubicle space — it represents a bygone era. It costs the same to design a holistic space that can accommodate both privacy and open community. These ‘bullpens’ are, or should be, a dying breed.”

Here’s to a future of collaborative working and communal office space. After all, sharing is caring.

Resources:

http://www.smallbizlabs.com/2014/05/coworking-forecast.html

 http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/02/as-coworking-spaces-scale-can-they-keep-their-communal-vibe/385653/

http://www.fastcompany.com/3004788/future-coworking-and-why-it-will-give-your-business-huge-edge

 http://818agency.com/content-marketing-for-shared-work-spaces/

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How FOMO Can Impact Your Career

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(As featured on Monster.ca)

You know that feeling.
You’re surfing Facebook on your lunch break when you spot the following status update posted by a former classmate: “Moving to New York City to work at [insert Fortune 500 company here]. So excited about this new chapter!!!” Three hundred and sixty “likes” later, and you’re left sweating, heart racing, and mind swirling with questions about your current job and career path.
Are these pangs of jealousy? Anxiety? Actually, both.
Sounds like your typical case of FOMO, which stands for a “fear of missing out.” This anxiety stems from the fear of missing out on something more interesting, exciting or jealousy-inducing than what we’re currently doing. It can also lead to a compulsive fear of missing the latest trends, news and hot spots. And it can cause unsettling feelings from your social life to your career.
The “fear of missing out” has always existed; it just never had a name before being hash tagged by social media users and then inducted in the Oxford Dictionary in 2013.
How can #FOMO be detrimental to your career? Let us count the ways; I wouldn’t want you to miss out…
1. It can make you overwhelmed
Being bombarded by a flurry of social media images, status updates and tweets can take a toll on anyone. Seeing all the “status worthy” posts of friends and even strangers in your network can make it harder for you to focus on your own daily tasks. FOMO and all the anxiety-ridden questions it produces (i.e. Am I in the right job? Did I follow the right path? Why am I not living the dream in some corner office in some glamorous city]?) serve as daily distractions that make it impossible to hone in on your bottom line: doing a stellar job in your current role.
To treat your FOMO… Unplug
If possible, schedule and limit your social media intake to once or twice per day (perhaps once in the morning and once at night if you don’t rely on it for work). Keep your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts closed throughout the day so that you’re not lured in by the bleeps of notifications. This will also do wonders in boosting your overall daytime productivity!
2. It can make you dissatisfied / demotivated
It’s easy to get caught up in all the amazing things people around you are doing career-wise and comparing yourself to them, especially since social media is a wonderful platform to broadcast and project a crafted image of oneself. The danger is getting caught up in this “grass is greener” syndrome and allowing it to get you down. Remember: things aren’t always as they seem.
To treat your FOMO… Create a vision board
Visualizing where you want to go in your own career can help you focus and keep your eyes on the prize. Create a physical board in your office or even a virtual one on Pinterest, and add any images, quotes or articles that inspire you and summarize your own goals. It’s easy to get sidetracked by the success and goals of others, which is why it’s important to remind yourself exactly where you want to go. If you see it and seek it, it will come!
3. It can make you insecure
Whether you’re getting your daily dose of FOMO from the social media networks you surf or from your coworkers, that nagging feeling that you’re being left out of a department lunch, meeting or project can make you question your skills and likability. And no one wants to feel insecure at the office. You might start to ask yourself questions like “Do my colleagues like me?” or “Why did the manager exclude me from the Miller account?”
To treat your FOMO… Take initiative 
Ask yourself: do you spend most of your workday isolating yourself at your desk while your teammates head out for lunch? Or have you been complaining about your workload lately? Perhaps you’re giving off the impression that you’re too busy to take lunch or take on a new project. Whatever the case, give your coworkers the benefit of the doubt and take initiative by asking your colleagues to go for lunch or making small talk. And if the “cool” project you want to get in on appeals to you, maybe you can vocalize your interest to your manager and let him or her know you’d love to get involved in those types of projects in the future. (Just make sure you’re on top of your current workload before asking to take on more tasks!)
4. It can make you distracted
According to Mashable, 56% of social media users are afraid of missing something such as an event, news (or) important status update if they don’t keep an eye on their social networks. The trouble is, trying to keep up with all the news out there can become a daunting task – not to mention that it’ll keep you chasing something ever changing… far from an effective way to manage your time at work.
To treat your FOMO… Bookmark your articles
Next time you stumble on interesting online news or articles, bookmark or “pin” them for when you have 5 minutes of downtime (while on hold on the phone, for example). Or better yet, schedule yourself specific times to read, such as during your commute to work or while drinking your morning coffee, and catch up on your virtual reading list.
5. It can drive you to want more
There’s nothing like the success of others to give you that extra push to question your current role and reassess where you want to be. You might love your job, but if your fear of missing out is happening on a regular basis, it could be time to ask yourself if you’re missing out on new opportunities or are no longer stimulated by your current job.
To treat your FOMO… Think of it as “Forever Open Minded to Opportunities” 
Embark on an exploratory job hunt by browsing the boards right here on Monster.ca. Seeing what’s out there and keeping your fingers on the pulse of new opportunities can leave you feeling refreshed and motivated.
Stay Calm & Carry On
At the end of the day, social media is not going anywhere and you can’t completely avoid it, but you can learn to quell and manage your own fear of missing out. It’s up to you to filter it, breathe, and recognize your own achievements.
Resource:
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Earning Money as a Brand Ambassador

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(As featured on Monster.ca)

When it comes to corporate brands as well as personal ones, reach is a numbers game.

And having a lot of reach in terms of your following – so a high number of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube followers – can give you the kind of leverage it takes to become a Brand Ambassador.

Sounds too good to be true? It’s legit, my friends.

So whether this is your full-time job or a part-time gig, partnering with a brand to become an ambassador is serious business. And it’s win-win: companies are recruiting on-brand influencers to help amplify their content and boost awareness, while people with substantial reach are becoming brand advocates to earn supplementary income.

Brand advocates and influential marketing aren’t new concepts, but social media has completely revolutionized the game, making it more lucrative and a more “democratic” possibility.

The best part? Becoming a brand ambassador opens up a whole new opportunity and revenue stream for people who work as independent contractors. And with many millennials today opting for freelance work over corporate life, becoming a brand ambassador can become a career.

Find out how to become a brand ambassador and what some of the duties include.

The business of blogging

It seems that today everyone and their dog has a blog (no, really: have you heard of Menswear Dog? He has almost 250k followers on Instagram!).

People wonder how bloggers make money – because let me tell you, some of the top-tier bloggers make a whole lot of it.

As a blogger, you’re creating your brand and persona. It’s not even necessarily about being the best writer or photographer; it’s really about resonating with an audience so large, that you amass a large following.

If you strike a chord and tap into the right audience, you can even accumulate a large following thanks to an Instagram or YouTube account alone!

Look at celebrity commentator and now legit celebrity Josh “The Fat Jewish” Ostrovsky, for example. (This is really his handle, so no hate mail please!)
His Instagram account is 7 million people strong, all because his pop culture-based humour strikes a chord with people and always goes viral. He now boasts sponsorships reportedly valued at up to $6,000 a post!

And of course, there are some of the most influential bloggers in the fashion industry, many of them also considered “lifestyle” bloggers. Danielle Bernstein of @weworewhat has amassed over 1 million followers, and according to a 2015 article in Harper’s Bazaar, the cost of a single piece of sponsored content (i.e. one Instagram shot) on her feed ranges from $5,000 to $15,000. (Sponsored content is usually designated with something like #ad or #sponsored on the post).

Now you don’t need that large of an audience, but having an Instagram following in the 5k to 20k range will garner you more leverage.

Build your audience

Establishing an online presence is all about credibility and trust – it’s literally your online “currency.” Work on increasing your audience because that’s your key to being approved as a brand ambassador. Focus on building your Instagram, Twitter or YouTube channels primarily, as they are the most conducive to being a brand ambassador.

Identify the brands you would partner with

Being a brand ambassador might actually happen organically and naturally. For example, if you’re frequently posting pics of you rocking your favourite shoes, the brand’s social media team will hopefully reach out, and either gift you with free product for you to feature or offer an opportunity to become a brand advocate.

Whoever you choose to represent should ideally be a brand you love. It really needs to feel natural and never “sales pitchy.”

If you are representing or featuring a brand that is completely off or disconnected with your personal brand, or if you start featuring products in your social media posts and it seems inauthentic, your audience will be the first to notice and you will likely lose credibility as a result.

This can hurt and damage your clout – and remember, as a social media personality, your clout is everything. This is your audience’s trust and the minute this is questioned, your fans will no longer trust you.

Contact brands’ PR teams

If you’ve pinpointed the brands that interest you, email their PR and/or Marketing teams. Or reach out on their social media channels with your links and profile (it’s easy to send them a note on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram), and let them know you’re interested in representing them or partnering up.

Take initiative and post, post, post

If you continue to post (quality!) pics of you wearing or using an item, make sure to tag the brand’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram channel to make it easier for them to find you.

And use the designated hashtag, if applicable.

Many brands are currently using brand advocacy platforms to find their biggest fans, so you want to ensure your content is findable and rich.

Influencer marketing has become an important focus for brands today – for starters, social media and public relations have merged into one and the same department for many brands. As well, user-generated content (photos that a fan or customer takes and posts on his/her channels) is considered “earned media” and has become a priority in brands’ battles for awareness and consideration in the marketplace.

Apply & search on job sites (like Monster)

Job sites post “Brand Ambassador” opportunities, so make sure to check them out regularly. You can see updated listings of Brand Ambassador openings here:

The best part about them is they can be done remotely, so location usually isn’t among the criteria.

Join Facebook Ambassador Groups

Search Facebook for your local “Ambassador Groups”. Many brands post in these groups, especially if they’re looking for offline brand ambassadors or if they need people from specific regions.

This will also allow you to meet and communicate with other ambassadors.

Brand ambassador duties

So what might these include?

  • Posting on your social media and/or blog, linking to product(s)
  • Going to an event or trip on behalf on a brand
  • Speaking at conferences or in-store, about a brand
  • Serving as an event host, in-store or at another specified location
  • Handing out samples in experiential campaigns, at an event or on the street

Go forth and influence

The great part about becoming a brand ambassador is there’s no risk involved: you can try this as a “side hustle” while maintaining a full-time job and see where it goes. The new world of social media and PR have really opened up a opportunities for anyone who wants to build an audience and hone their networking and business savvy skills.

One of the most effective ways to boost a brand’s credibility is by tapping into their own satisfied customers and fans, and turning their love for the brand into powerful word of mouth marketing. So it’s win-win for everyone!

Is Freelance the New Corporate?

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(As featured on Monster.ca)

Welcome to the freelance era. It’s a time when career-driven men and women are deciding to leave the corporate world, to take matters into their own hands and become their own bosses.

A conversation I recently had with an American-based headhunter /recruiter confirmed this trend: she told me that in the past 10 years of headhunting, this is the year where she’s seen the biggest increase in companies hiring contract workers to do the job.

So Why the Sudden Surge of Freelancers?

A 2012 article in the Harvard Business Review focused on this phenomenon, in an article called “The Rise of the New Contract Worker.”

It explains that while one reason is the difficulty in finding full-time employment, more and more people are willingly choosing this lifestyle. Even leaving stable and secure jobs to pursue it.

One of the biggest draws might be right there in the word “freelance.” Free to manage your own time, be your own boss and be in control of your schedule.

Work-life balance is definitely a major objective in taking the freelance route.

Freelancers Are Taking Over

The people taking the freelance world by storm boast a well-honed skillset. They would rather choose their projects according to their interests and expertise. They are strategic, they are experienced and they are driven. They are everything from HR managers and accountants, to creatives like graphic designers, PR and social media specialists, to copywriters and bloggers/influencers/brand ambassadors.

And with more people saying “peace out” to their corporate jobs and becoming entrepreneurs, the tech and work landscape have become better suited to fit this need.

Today’s freelancers are very well set up for success thanks to new businesses and technologies that make it easier for contract workers to stay organized and thrive.

They include:

Co-Working Spaces: Communal office spaces are popping up in urban cities, eliminating the loneliness and isolation that might come from working as a freelancer. These spaces provide an alternative to working at a café all day, and offer freelance workers an assigned desk or cubicle. They also provide IT support, conference rooms, and an actual address and place to meet with clients (making freelancers seem more legit). Another added bonus: the other freelancers in the shared workspace provide a great sounding board for creative brainstorming sessions and can even become potential clients.

Breather: If you don’t need an actual permanent workspace, the Breather app allows you to book a meeting room in your city. These designated rooms in urban cities are set up for meetings, presentations, or even to serve as a spot to pause and take a “breather.”

Easy and free accounting platforms: No need to be intimidated by the thought of hiring an accountant or worrying that your invoices won’t be trackable. There’s a wide range of free online accounting tools & apps, with clear dashboard functionality to create and track invoices.

Millennials Are Setting the Example

The thrill of the unknown seems to be appealing for many today, especially millennials and “yuccies” (a subset of millennials who have been dubbed “yuccies” a.k.a. “young urban creatives”). Millennials love to be in control. They embrace change and are more likely to be risk takers, movers and shakers, as opposed to staying in the same company for years. The notion of being with the same company, hoping to retire and get the proverbial “gold watch” is becoming an archaic concept.

Millennials have witnessed first-hand what the corporate life has done to their parents and they’re not interested or impressed by people claiming to be “workaholics,” clocking more than 50 hours of work per week and dealing with a staggering inbox of emails.

They are more impressed by young entrepreneurs who are launching companies and start-ups, and have the freedom to travel and work from anywhere.

But How is it Perceived?

In an era where women are encouraged to “Lean In,” is leaving the corporate world in favour of work-life balance a form of “Leaning Out” and doing the opposite?

Is being entrepreneurial and having an independent spirit a form of “taking a step back”? This would be a sad perception!

For many of us, careers make up a strong part of our identity. But when considering the freelance life, part of this decision-making process is to let go of the expectations you set for yourself and look for happiness, balance and personal fulfillment instead.

So how about we flip this notion on its head, and position success as being your own boss, managing your own schedule, taking on new risks, and loving what you do.

Are You Ready to do It?

Freelancing is not for everyone. So before taking that step take in consideration the following tips:

Do some soul-searching: Take a step back to think about what drives you. You might have always thought you wanted to climb the corporate ladder and land that corner office, but now that goal or objective no longer seems appealing.

List the pros and cons: Assess whether you have enough contracts lined up or enough of a safety net to go a few months without steady income.

Recognize the financial instability: It needs to be said that some months will be harder than others. Ask yourself whether you can handle this.

Why do you want to leave your job? Are you tired of your current job, your boss or the corporate world at a broader scale?

Are you driven by the unknown? Remember that the entrepreneurial life can be scary and intimidating (it can also be awesome and exhilarating). Recognize the amount of work you might have to put in to build a sustainable network of contacts, as it can take years of hustling before you reach the “5-year hump” of success.

Do you have a backup plan? If going the freelance route doesn’t work in the end, do you have the skillset and experience to easily find another corporate job?

So You’re Ready to Take the Leap. Now What?

To be 100% safe and cautious, ease into the freelance route.

Consider taking on as many freelance contracts as you can while staying at your regular 9 to 5. You will eventually reach a fork in the road where your part-time / independent endeavor will take up too much of your time, making it impossible to juggle both your full-time job and your side gig. It might all become more than you can chew.

If you do still like your job, is there the opportunity of a flexible work schedule? Can you speak to your manager and tell him/her that you really love your job and the company you work for, but would simply like to manage your own time and schedule, and want to work freelance. You never know: they might become your biggest client!

And if you take the freelancer route, remember these important tips:

  • Ignore the haters. There will always be people who try to spread their negativity. Do not get discouraged!
  • Trust your gut. It will lead the way.
  • Believe in yourself. Have the confidence to make your own decision and feel good about it.

Whatever you choose, remember to list the benefits and risks, and come up with a proper plan. Always keep a door open with your employer. You might end up loving what you do and having the flexibility to manage your own time. Sounds like a win-win!

Resources:

The Rise of the New Contract Worker – Harvard Business Review

4 Reasons Millennials Are Telling Bosses Where to Stick Their Jobs – Inc.com

Why Are Millennials Leaving Your Company?

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(As featured on Monster.ca)

A mass exodus is occurring right before our eyes: millennials are fleeing the building. They are leaving their cushy corporate jobs in favour of launching their own start-ups or going the freelancer route. Don’t call them self-entitled job hoppers though – they’re simply looking for new experiences, fulfillment and personal growth.

To be transparent, lately my daily online reading further drives this point home: a barrage of articles have started filling my feed, with titles like “How to Be Happy at Work,” “How to Start Your Own Business” and “How to Ensure You’re Finding Your Purpose.”

It seems that instead of articles on how to get ahead, articles about becoming your own boss are going viral. Which begs the question: Are Google searches for “how to land the corner office” being replaced by “how to work in your own home office”?

Are millennials tired of the regular corporate life? And what can you do to ensure your company is appealing to this thriving sector of the workforce – and retaining top talent?

How to Keep Them

1.- Why Do They Want to Leave: The 9 to 5 office structure stifles them

Solution: Allow (and encourage) flexible hours

One of the top disadvantages often listed about working in a corporate environment is the inflexibility.

Some companies are stuck in an era where physical “face time” is appreciated – and even recognized. But with today’s technologies, employees can be even more productive when working from home, even if it means a couple of days per week. I’ve heard many people complain about how long their daily commute is, to the point where this actually becomes an employee’s most stressful part of their day. If they work from home, they might even be able to log on by 7:30 / 8am, rather than rolling in at 9:30am.

Meetings and communication are no longer challenging, thanks to efficient online messaging tools like Slack, and Google Hangouts and Skype (or even simple  “dial-in” numbers).

Companies like Flexwork Global are trying to change this mentality as well, by helping companies adopt a more flexible work structure and create effective mobile workplaces.

Moving away from an old-school “9 to 5” mentality will definitely make your company more appealing to current and would-be employees.

2.- Why Do They Want to Leave: Unfulfilled Goals

Solution: Foster personal growth

Millennials – and especially yuccies – thrive on loving what they do and being passionate about it.

Encourage your managers to have more regular personal assessment meetings with their team members, to stay on the pulse of what their employees are interested in and what drives them.

Trying to foster their personal growth from an intrinsic point of view will appeal to them. For example, “lunch and learn” workshops about “lifestyle” topics geared towards self-improvement could be motivating.

Also, try to implement recognition programs where employees who have made a difference and “walk the walk” are recognized with an award. By achievements I’m not referring to who had the best sales quarter, but rather who made a difference by leading by example and fostering a positive environment and attitude.

3.- Why Do They Want to Leave: They have other interests

Solution: Allow side projects

Many millennials are driven to work on passion projects – encourage this mindset. For example, if someone on your team is passionate about a cause or hobby, encourage them to talk about it. If you allow your team members to nurture their side projects, they will feel appreciated at work and as if they’re getting the best of both worlds. Win-win for all.

Of course, this is acceptable as long as the side project is not a conflict of interest with the person’s primary job.

4.- Why Do They Want to Leave: They are stressed out – to the max

Solution: Encourage wellness like yoga or mediation at the office, or an on-site nutritionist

Unlike previous generations, millennials are not motivated by stress. They aren’t interested in burning out or burning the midnight oil (unless they work for themselves). Their parents likely never achieved work-life balance, but millennials wouldn’t have it any other way. They work hard, but don’t live to work.

With that in mind, offer yoga or meditation sessions at the office. Or implement a program where employees go for group walks or jogs at lunchtime, to take a “breather” and break away. Since the 2000s and the start of the start-up era, companies are getting better and better at this idea, but there’s still a ways to go to allow employees to work hard without burning out.

Foster Change & Be Disruptive

Millennials are a talented bunch.

They are the future of the workforce, and no doubt will soon be judging the next generation to follow, now known as Generation Edge (or Gen Z).

Ensure you stay attractive to this cutting-edge, innovative generation of people – it just takes an open mind and willingness to adapt to their needs.