There are currently five generations working together in the workplace. In this inspiring presentation, millennial workplace expert Adam Smiley Poswolsky shares how companies can attract, retain, and engage top talent of all generations by leading with purpose. He breaks through common stereotypes about millennial employees, shares case studies for increasing employee engagement, and teaches proven strategies and tools to increase retention and foster intergenerational collaboration in the workplace, which will help you build a purpose-driven company culture that empowers all of your employees. Learn how to manage and communicate effectively with different generations in the workplace; contact Smiley today.

2. A D A M S M I L E Y P O S W O L S K Y
E n g a g i n g t h e M u l t i g e n e r a t i o n a l
W o r k f o r c e
Closing General Session, October 4, 2019
smileyposwolsky@gmail.com
SMILEYPOSWOLSKY.COM
Twitter/Instagram: @whatsupsmiley
Copyright 2019 by Adam S. Poswolsky. All rights reserved.

3. 70%Source: Gallup, State of the American Workplace Report (2016)

4. @whatsupsmiley

5. FIND BELIEVERS

7. WE ARE NOT THE
“ME ME ME”
GENERATION

8. PURSUE MEANING

9. “Being human always points, and is directed,
to something or someone, other than oneself—
be it a meaning to fulfill or another human
being to encounter.
The more one forgets himself— by giving
himself to a cause to serve or another person
to love—the more human he is.”
-Viktor Frankl

10. reflects who you are
and what your interests are,
allows you to share your gifts
to help others,
provides a community of believers that will support
your dreams,
and is financially viable
given your desired lifestyle.
MEANINGFUL WORK
@whatsupsmiley

11. @whatsupsmiley

12. WHAT MILLENNIALS REALLY WANT
• Not just a paycheck à PURPOSE
• Not job satisfaction à PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Not a boss à A COACH
• Not annual reviews à FREQUENT FEEDBACK AND ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS
• Not fix weaknesses à DEVELOP STRENGTHS
• Not just a job à IT’S MY LIFE
Source: Gallup, “How Millennials Want to Work and Live” (2016)

13. ENOUGH
ABOUT
MILLENNIALS

14. 5 GENERATIONS AT WORK

15. MILLENNIALS, GEN-X, BOOMERS
• Make a positive impact on org
• Help solve social and environmental challenges
• Work with a diverse group of people
• Work for an org among best in my industry
• Do work I’m passionate about
• Become an expert in my field
Source: IBM: “Myths, exaggerations and uncomfortable truths” (2015)
Millennials don’t want a trophy, they want a manager who is ethical, fair, and transparent.

16. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
• Purpose
• Value
• Renewal
• Focus
Source: The Energy Project (NY Times, Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath, “Why You Hate Work”, 5/20/14).

17. PURPOSE IS
CROSS-GENERATIONAL

18. EMPLOYEES WANT MEANINGFUL WORK

19. AVG. JOB TENURE IN U.S.
20-24 y/o = 1.3 years
25-35 y/o = 2.8 years
ALL WORKERS = 4.2 years
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employee Tenure in 2018"

20. 12% OF GEN-Z
30% OF MILLENNIALS
EXPECT TO STAY
+5 YEARS
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)

21. 70% OF MILLENNIALS
IN SENIOR MGMT WOULD
CONSIDER SHORT-TERM
CONTRACTS
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)

22. 65% OF TODAY’S KIDS
WILL END UP IN JOBS
THAT HAVEN’T BEEN
INVENTED YET
Source: World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report (2016)

23. VALUE TALENT
THROUGH COACHING
AND MENTORSHIP

25. ALWAYS BE LEARNING
ALWAYS BE TEACHING
RE-INVENT YOUR CAREER

26. “Managing millennials
is nurturing millennials.”
-Esther Perel

27. HR IS THE NEW
LIFE COACH
@whatsupsmiley

28. CULTURE
IS EVERYONE’S JOB

29. The main reason people leave a job
is to go to a firm with a better
company culture.
- Glassdoor
Source: World Economic Forum, Alex Grey, ”Why employees
leave and how to make them stay” (May 31, 2017)

30. TREAT CULTURE
LIKE A
PRODUCT

31. TREAT CULTURE LIKE A PRODUCT
VALUES
• INCLUSION
• OPEN COMMUNICATION
• CO-CREATION
• COLLABORATION
• GROWTH
• CLARITY & TRANSPARENCY
PROGRAMS
• DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT
• EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
• REAL TALK EVENTS
• ROADMAP GOAL-MAPPING WEEK
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME
• CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP TRAINING
• COACHING BENEFIT
• APPROACHABLE LEADERS

32. WORK
IS THE NEW
GRAD SCHOOL@whatsupsmiley

33. EMPLOYER
=
EDUCATOR
70% of those who stay +5 years, say org is strong provider org of education and training
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)

34. NEXT GEN TALENT NEEDS
Interpersonal skills
Confidence
Ethics/integrity
Critical thinking
Innovation + creativity
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)

35. INVEST IN
GEN-X
@whatsupsmiley

36. MAKE
DIVERSITY A REALITY
NOT A PRIORITY
Those working for diverse companies more likely to stay 5+ years (70% to 30%)
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)
MAKE
DIVERSITY A REALITY
NOT A PRIORITY
Those working for diverse companies more likely to stay 5+ years (70% to 30%)
Source: Deloitte Millennial Survey (2018)

37. “THE PERFECT TEAM” AT GOOGLE
Source: ”The five keys to a successful team,” Re:Work Google,
https://rework.withgoogle.com/blog/five-keys-to-a-successful-google-team/
1. Psychological safety: Team members feel safe to take risks and be
vulnerable in front of each other
2. Dependability: Team members get things done + meet Google’s high bar
3. Structure & clarity: Team members have clear roles, plans, and goals
4. Meaning: Work is personally important to team members
5. Impact: Team members think their work matters and creates change

38. CREATE CO-LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
@whatsupsmiley

39. HARNESS WISDOM OF BABY BOOMERS
Inter-generational conversations
&
GIVE EARLY TALENT A PLATFORM
Millennial Corps

40. CHANGE MILLENNIAL ETIQUETTE
Establish clear workplace expectations
&
EMPOWER MILLENNIALS
Give young employees a voice

41. CHANGE MILLENNIAL ETIQUETTE
• Show up on time
• Use proper language in email + verbal communication
• Don’t ask for a promotion on your 3rd day
• Respect your managers and elders
• Be humble, patient, and team-oriented
• Add value before asking for favors

42. RE-IMAGINE THE
SENIOR STAFF
MEETING
@whatsupsmiley

43. TAKE
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
SERIOUSLY
@whatsupsmiley

44. The average employee checks
40 websites a day,
switching activities 37 times an hour,
changing tasks every 2 minutes.

45. FOSTER IN-PERSON
CONNECTION

46. PERFORMANCE MGMT
IS ABOUT PEOPLE
NOT KPIs
@whatsupsmiley

47. • Data-driven engagement tools
• Real-time feedback + affirmations
• Celebrate your people (often)
• “Fresh” opportunities for top-performers
• “Time to give” or “Time to learn”

48. “STAY” INTERVIEWS
NOT EXIT INTERVIEWS

49. MAKE THE ASK

50. WE ARE THE
PURPOSE
GENERATION

51. A D A M S M I L E Y P O S W O L S K Y
E n g a g i n g t h e M u l t i g e n e r a t i o n a l
W o r k f o r c e
Closing General Session
smileyposwolsky@gmail.com
SMILEYPOSWOLSKY.COM
Twitter/Instagram: @whatsupsmiley
Copyright 2019 by Adam S. Poswolsky. All rights reserved.