Future-proofing the millennial workplace
Millennials are constantly changing the existing paradigm of work, and there is no stopping them.
Ten years ago, an office without dedicated desks, and which allow instant voice and video communication with colleagues from other locations, was almost inconceivable.
Today, as evolving end-user experiences drive the need for faster and smarter enterprises, digital natives are making it clear that integrating the latest technologies into the workplace is the way to go.
Digital natives, better known as millennials, have earned a rather unfavorable reputation for being entitled and lazy.
But recent articles by The Economist and Forbes have debunked misconceptions, claiming instead that millennials have the potential to be the most hardworking demographic in today’s workforce—as long as they have a workplace that matches their needs.
Sixty percent of the top 1,000 enterprises in the region have already made digital transformation the engine of their growth strategy. By 2020, at least half of the global workforce is expected to come from the millennial generation.
With job loyalty falling and an increasing number of millennial employees, companies in Asia Pacific—soon to become home to more than half of the world’s millennials—need to remodel their businesses to attract and retain top talent.
What should businesses keep in mind when designing the workplace of the future?
1) Connect, collaborate and conquer—Real-time communication. Nifty soundbites. Quick actionable insights. Millennials want to pack in a lot of tasks within the shortest possible time frame. They demand two-way feedback and the ability to connect, engage, and collaborate at their fingertips.
2) Anywhere. Anytime. —Millennials will not allow themselves to be tied down. They reorganize their day at a moment’s notice and have fluid schedules. Empower millennials with information access, so they can work on the go, at any hour of the day. Make the work environment as flexible as possible. In fact, 67 percent of millennials feel that flexibility has a positive impact on their productivity.
3) Device-athon —The more devices, the better. Millennials are dedicated to producing the maximum output using the least input and are constantly engaging with multiple devices to boost their productivity. Millennials today use gadgets for multiple purposes, as lines between their personal life and professional work become even more blurred.
4) Need for speed —Nothing is too fast for millennial workers. Redefine security perimeters across all applications and devices to prevent sluggish security scans and disruptive breaches from breaking millennials’ momentum. Millennials love to get moving fast, so a seamless working experience is crucial for them to add value to your business.
5) Cloud-high —In an era of low censorship and freedom of information, open-minded millennials not only consume large amounts of data, but also thrive in sharing and storing information.
Millennials are increasingly dominating the world of work and as they climb the corporate ladder, want the flexibility to make business decisions wherever they are. Be sure to keep this savvy bunch equipped with empowering tools that boost engagement and help them work faster, smarter and safer. —CONTRIBUTED. The author is Country Manager, F5 Networks Philippines.
