Useful Steps to Help Millennial Sales Leaders Deal With De-Energizing Tasks

​Does having a mentor matter?
 
Do you remember the SNAP mentality we discussed a few posts back?  Snap-my-fingers-and-everything-has-to-happen-now Millennials often become de-energized and disheartened at work when they realize they have to start at the bottom.
 
The 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey found that those intending to stay with their company for more than five years are twice as likely to have a mentor (68%).  That’s a surprising number, isn’t it? 

This finding emphasizes the importance of your leadership role to help Millennials carry forward your business growth and sales strategies. As a business owner recently said, “They are the future of my business. I can’t afford to not invest in them.”
 
What might we do to help emerging Millennial sales and business leaders jazz up the “other” tasks on their ToDo Lists:
 
Category 2:  Things they have to do; and
Category 3:  Things that are a major drag?
 
Deal with De-Energizing Tasks is the sixth action step to model an Impact Mindset 
The Bottom-of-the-Barrel-Job Myth:
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A friend recently talked about her son’s disappointment with his first sales support job.  He is appalled at having to perform, what he calls, ‘bottom-of-the-barrel” tasks.  He expects a ‘title’ – one that recognizes his excellent education – even though he has no experience. 
 
Of course, as parent’s, they are just grateful he has a job, and isn’t living in their basement.  They see this as an opportunity to build his resume and gain experience that proves a willingness to pay his dues in the work place.
 
How do you inspire emerging millennial sales leaders who are constantly complaining about Category 2 and 3 de-energizing tasks?
 
Changing The Bottom-of-the-Barrel-Job Myth:  

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​Rotate ready-to-learn young sales and business leaders through different jobs, so they can constantly gain new knowledge and expertise. 

Encourage Millennial sales leaders to get a new perspective by participating in this 3-Step Grateful Exercise:

• Challenge your team to list one task each day that de-energizes them. (Things they have to do; things that are a major drag!)
• Inspire them to figure out why they’re grateful for it.  Sounds like a paradox?  Here’s an example:  I’m de-energized by having to perform bottom-of-the-barrel tasks each day, but I’m grateful that it develops my willingness to climb the corporate ladder. 
• Encourage them to keep doing this.  This exercise might seem easy at first, but it becomes increasingly difficult to figure out why one might be grateful for doing something that’s de-energizing!  However, it’s a rewarding experience and great character development tool.

                                                                                                              
Remind Next Gen Leaders that sometimes they need to put their SNAP mindset aside, pull on the ‘emotional discipline hat’ and do what’s necessary to have a high regard for everything they do – even the seemingly less important tasks.  This is where they will appreciate the value of your experience as their mentor.  Show them how they might become positive agents of change, regardless of their title or position, and reach their goals, as well as positively impact your business.
 
In the next post, I’ll tell you about a quote I read that made me decide:  I never want to stop learning.
 
Leadership lesson:  When we know what de-energizes young Millennials, we will also know where we need to help them in order to be more productive.
 
Leadership question: How can you inspire the younger generation to tackle tedious tasks so they might grab onto your business growth strategies with more enthusiasm? 
 
If you struggle to see how you can make a difference and be a positive change agent by doing your job, I invite you to watch this video:  Work as Worship by RightNow Ministries

​​© Copyright Danita Bye, 2016