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In case you missed my earlier post, I will be taking the stage with Lindsey Pollak and presenting the keynote at the NEEBC Annual Benefits Trade Show. I will have about 10 minutes to speak on engaging with millennials in the workplace, specifically focusing on how benefits impact our desire to work or continue working for a company. What does it means to be a millennial and more importantly how do I fit into this brand I'm developing around being a millennial technologist? Sure, I am an individual born between the years of 1982-2000 and I am a complete techie, but how do the two fit. One common thread I keep finding myself going back to is choice. In technology, choice allows customers to decide what works in their specific situation, putting them in control. They can integrate different competitor products together or can maintain a relationship with one or two companies. Offering our customers choice means there are a ton of different options to decide between. This decision is one a customer wants to have control over but also needs guidance in order to make the right choice (re: the 3rd platform requires a trusted advisor). Instead of focusing on technical specifics we need to highlight the business impact, which is the only way our customers will understand why one product or solution makes sense over another. Now think about millennials. We grew up with millions of options from different apps to personalized sneakers. As we begin to enter the workforce we even have 10 different healthcare options and the chance to invest in numerous portfolios through a 401K. The choices are endless and yet difficult to understand. I'm left thinking what is best for me, the 23 year old who never gets sick and has no idea what the difference between a bond and a stock is, oh, and $103,000 in debt from student loans. Now how do I manage my money to get out of that debt? It all comes down to how does it impact my business, my life. Millennials need help understanding how each choice will influence my life in the future. Despite being known for needing instant gratification, we also know how valuable it is to invest early in things like heth are, 401K, stock options, etc. because we have seen what can happen if you don't through events like the 2008 financial crisis. Our generation also has more debt than any other generation at our age which puts an even greater ends of awareness on the need to save and invest wisely. Choice is great, but we need to start presenting these choices as it relates to people's lives. |
