Notes on Millenials, part 2.
If you haven't read part 1, you may want to read that here first.
There are groups who are varying degrees of critical towards the Millennial generation. From mild criticism to outright hostility. This is nothing new, this happens between most generations. The problem is, this type of dialogue will only create a larger gap between generations, rather than bridge it. Instead of levelling criticism, why don't we try and understand this generation, so we can bridge gaps and move forward with them. Millennials, like every previous generation, are different.
There are a lot of good qualities found in Millennials, I am not going to write about the the criticisms levelled at this generation as it will not move the dialogue forward. The only consideration I will add regarding criticisms of Millennials is this: of the criticisms levelled at Millennials, who do you think made them ________? (insert criticism in the blank) My answer: Probably their parents generation.
So here are a few follow up notes of some characteristics and differences I see in the Millennial generation.
Life Isn't Black and White
- Contrary ideas are okay. This is a huge difference I see between other generations and Millennials. This is obviously a generalization, and cannot hold true 100% of the time. However, other generations seem to have a more binary thinking system, whereby everything is either "a" or "b". Millennials seem to see things less binary. They can see "a" with some "b" and a bit of "c". Or maybe option "d" that nobody thought about... (this is quite ironic for a generation that has grown up in a completely digital world :)
Ideas
- Further to this, Millennials generally feel differences are not reason for division. Again, this is because they do not see things in binary. So, because we do not agree on this, does not necessarily mean we are divided. We do not see the same, we see differently, and that is okay.
Engagement
- Millennials want to engage and be engaged in dialogue. One-way communication does more harm than good for Millennials. Millennials want to ask questions and have questions asked of them. Answers are less important than good questions. And this should hold true for all people. Read an excellent blog post on this here, written by Carey Nieuwhof.
Materialistic
- Millenials are less materialistic in general than previous generations. Think about the large houses and cars of the previous generations. Many Millennials are known to be embracing minimalistic lifestyles and are behind many charitable efforts. Their dreams are often not to have the biggest and best of everything.
Older generations: Let's try and understand this generation so we can move forward with them together. Mutal love and respect is key.
Millennial generation: Let's try and understand other generations so we can move forward with them together. Mutal love and respect is key.
There are groups who are varying degrees of critical towards the Millennial generation. From mild criticism to outright hostility. This is nothing new, this happens between most generations. The problem is, this type of dialogue will only create a larger gap between generations, rather than bridge it. Instead of levelling criticism, why don't we try and understand this generation, so we can bridge gaps and move forward with them. Millennials, like every previous generation, are different.
There are a lot of good qualities found in Millennials, I am not going to write about the the criticisms levelled at this generation as it will not move the dialogue forward. The only consideration I will add regarding criticisms of Millennials is this: of the criticisms levelled at Millennials, who do you think made them ________? (insert criticism in the blank) My answer: Probably their parents generation.
So here are a few follow up notes of some characteristics and differences I see in the Millennial generation.
Life Isn't Black and White
- Contrary ideas are okay. This is a huge difference I see between other generations and Millennials. This is obviously a generalization, and cannot hold true 100% of the time. However, other generations seem to have a more binary thinking system, whereby everything is either "a" or "b". Millennials seem to see things less binary. They can see "a" with some "b" and a bit of "c". Or maybe option "d" that nobody thought about... (this is quite ironic for a generation that has grown up in a completely digital world :)
Ideas
- Further to this, Millennials generally feel differences are not reason for division. Again, this is because they do not see things in binary. So, because we do not agree on this, does not necessarily mean we are divided. We do not see the same, we see differently, and that is okay.
Engagement
- Millennials want to engage and be engaged in dialogue. One-way communication does more harm than good for Millennials. Millennials want to ask questions and have questions asked of them. Answers are less important than good questions. And this should hold true for all people. Read an excellent blog post on this here, written by Carey Nieuwhof.
Materialistic
- Millenials are less materialistic in general than previous generations. Think about the large houses and cars of the previous generations. Many Millennials are known to be embracing minimalistic lifestyles and are behind many charitable efforts. Their dreams are often not to have the biggest and best of everything.
Older generations: Let's try and understand this generation so we can move forward with them together. Mutal love and respect is key.
Millennial generation: Let's try and understand other generations so we can move forward with them together. Mutal love and respect is key.
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