Will Millennials sink or swim?

Today, Gen Ys/Millennials (aged 26 and under) join Veterans (aged 61 and older), Baby Boomers (aged 42-60) and Gen Xs (aged 27-41) in the workplace. Social scientists believe that each of these generations experienced unique “defining moments” during their formative years that helped to shape their motivations and expectations of behavior.

Historically, only three generations have ever been in the workplace at any given time. Today, people are working well past traditional retirement age and the new face of the workplace has many generations working under the same roof. This unprecedented situation offers both opportunities and challenges to today’s lawyers.

As newly minted lawyers enter the workforce in droves, they are poised to make fresh contributions and bring new ideas to the workplace. However, when expectations meet reality, these Millennials—and the seasoned practitioners who manage them—can struggle.

Often times, Millennials get a bad rapt from older generations for what is perceived as an unwillingness to work hard or a lack of professionalism. In truth, Millennials just have a different approach. Millennials expect clear assignments, regular feedback and reward for their efforts. Additionally, Millennials like to look at the big picture and have a clear understanding of the rewards that lie ahead.

However, understanding is not a one-way street and Millennials must adapt and take note of what motivates and drives their Boomer and Veteran bosses. For Veterans, World War II and the Depression were defining moments that continue to shape their world view. From a strong respect for the chain of command, to valuing institutional hierarchies, Veterans prefer to honor tradition.

For Boomers, they find their reward in the status and achievement they gain through hard work. It is important for Millennials to respect the hierarchy of a firm and understand that senior lawyers have earned the right to do the more sophisticated work.

These significant changes to lawyer demographics will continue to shape the legal workplace for years to come. Regardless of whether you are Boomer or a Millennial, it is important to consider the attitudes and perspectives of every member of your team. At the end of the day, a team consisting of members from different generations will be able to accomplish more to better meet clients’ needs.

For further reading:

“Attention Gen Y’s: Understand Generational Differences in the Workplace” by Kathleen Brady on the Law Practice Management Web site.

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