Bring on the Rookies (Millennials)

It seems like everyone is asking the question, “What are we going to do about all those darn millennials?” Instead of trying to fit a generation of square pegs into round holes, the Saint Louis Rams have figured out just what to do in order to coach the next generation to be the players (ahem, employees) their team needs in order to win.

Almost everything you’ve heard about millennials is true. The “digital native” generation has adapted their behavior and environment in order to keep up with the times. They learn, live, love and think in ways unlike any other generation. The traditional office environment does not suit their learning and working style. This can cause a lot of issues when it comes to communication and education.

How do you create a work environment that meets the millennial way of life? It seems like that’s the proverbial quest for a hip and trendy office culture that everyone is searching for. The Rams didn’t just think of a millennial-friendly work environment as a luxury on one hand or unnecessary on the other — they knew they had to adapt or lose.

The Rams created a “millennial lab” to research how the millennial mind works and determine the best coaching techniques to get them to do the best job possible. It seems, through their testing and research, the Rams figured out a way to bridge the generational gap – and if businesses were smart, they’d start doing their millennial homework too. The only way you can have a winning team is by making sure you are effectively coaching and communicating with all of your players. Yes, even the millennials…