You may think that an employee who is surfing the internet is slacking on the job, but did you ever consider that it was actually improving their performance? As managers adjust to the newest generation in the workforce, they are finding that in order to motivate millennial workers, they must release the old expectation that an employee will be 100% focused on a single task at hand.
Millennials have grown up in a time where watching television, texting with a friend and surfing the internet, all at the same time, is not only doable but expected. This ability to juggle multiple tasks at once has transferred over to the office. Just like a rock star who can make up lyrics while jotting down chords and flirting with a groupie, millennials need to do multiple activities to keep them excited about their work.
There are many benefits to working on multiple tasks simultaneously. These benefits are not only for the employee, but they also translate to a better bottom line for the business.
It almost goes without saying that doing more than one thing at a time would help you save time. Why accomplish one thing when you can accomplish three?
Millennials get bored very easily. If they are tasked with performing one job all day, every day, they will be unsatisfied and start looking for their next opportunity. When they have the freedom to attack multiple projects at once, they'll be more mentally stimulated and emotionally motivated to accomplish more.
If you'd like your business rock stars to reach their full potential for creativity and productivity, multitasking will help. It fires up the brain and gets the creative juices flowing.
Whether your business is in the growth stage or you are well established, there are often tasks that go above and beyond the employee's job description. When workers are allowed to multitask, they become quick thinkers who are able to adapt faster and solve problems faster. These employees are also able to communicate better with their coworkers and don't immediately lose the ability to work on the task at hand every time they are interrupted.
Allowing multitasking in the office allows employees to learn and grow while they are working. It also improves self-confidence as more tasks are completed successfully.
Multitasking can mean different things to different people. For some, it's the opportunity to listen to music while they work. For others, it's having the freedom to chat with friends while they complete their work. And for some, it's just about working on different projects at the same time.
Ultimately, the important word here is "work." If your employees are getting their projects done on time, serving the customers, and reaching any goals that you've set forth for them, give them the freedom to multitask in whatever way they see fit. Marvelless Mark® reminds his clients that when you trust your employees to bring their best selves to work, the details of how they work, suddenly seem a lot less important.
Millennials are a very unique and powerful generation. The better you get at motivating them, leading them, and understanding what makes them tick — the more you'll bring out their inner rock stars.
"One new feature or fresh take can change everything." Neil Young
Mark Kamp® aka Marvelless Mark® works with organizations who want their teams to achieve immediate rock star results. A Keynote Speaker/Entertainer/Author, Husband, Father, and child of God, his primary message, “Opportunity Rocks®” gives attendees a fresh new perspective on Sales, Marketing, and Employee Performance. Fun and engaging, Mark combines the success secrets of your favorite rock stars with just the right amount of entertainment to transform your employees into business rockstars. Learn more at www.OpportunityRocks.net.