Millennials Seeking New Routes to Governance

You’re invited to delve deeper with millennial leadership! Get ready…

Motivation, Accountability, Setting Goals and Achieving them are all skillsets Millennials retain – however, it is an ever-evolving process, being that common misconceptions tend to plague the Millennial generation such as, entitlement, overconfidence, and narcissistic behaviors. It is important to dispel those fallacies, and the leadership lessons provided by the panelists at a recent Next Generation of Government Training Summit did just that!

In Leadership lessons for Millennials, the panelists were: Mike Casey, Chief Learning Officer, General Services Administration; Laura Free, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Winta Tewolde, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Emma Vadehra, U.S. Department of Education. The panelists all worked to redefine what it means to be a Millennial leader or supervise Millennials.

Moderator, Andrew Krzmarzick, Govloop Vice President, Learning and Development, recalls some advice he gave a Millennial: “If you want to be taken seriously, own your 40-year old self”. Here 8eightquestions raised by Millennials in the audience. Panelists gave some insightful information answers as to how Millennials can become insightful leaders in the workplace:

1. How do you overcome the common misperception that Millennials are entitled?
   1. Show you want to work hard to do well
   2. Don’t pretend you know what you don’t know
   3. Make your own identity
   4. Get a sponsor or champion at your agency/office to help create your own identity
2. What advice would you give to first-time supervisors?
   

   1. According to Winta Tewolde you should think about positional leadership vs peer leadership. Think about how you follow and lead others. It always a great time to start, so start now and don’t wait until you become a leaders to start leading.

   2. Manage up! Although you are not currently in a leadership position, you can always take on a leadership roles regardless of where you are in your career. Think about ways to advise your supervisor.

3. Can you suggest any skills to utilize when “managing up” when different personalities and egos are involved?
   
   1. Think about how the individual receives information and present information to them in a way that will be receptive.
   2. Take a step back and articulate your goals in a clear, precise manner
4. How should you approach getting those leadership roles that will allow you to move forward in your career?
   1. Volunteer! Look for ways inside and outside your office to develop skills you may not have, but desire.
   2. Get involved in an agency workgroup. Of course it will be additional task, however do that which is required and beyond. Give 110%.

5. What leadership development programs would you recommend you aspiring leaders?Mike Casey encouraged us to look at employee engagement and think about how to get folks engaged and get them to go the extra mile.
   1. Details Opportunities are a great way to seek out opportunities meet new people and engage with new leadership.
   2. Individual Development Plans (IDP) Complete one annually with your supervisor
   3. Laura Free suggest, Ad Hoc Training such as Project Management and Facilitations Training which will help to produce skills that are necessary for leadership.
6. As Millennials are moving around, how do you mitigate the risk of frequent movements without burning bridges?
   1. Get the conversation started early, being upfront and honest with your supervisor in advance about your career path. Have your new manager talk to your old manager. Continue to do you work and do it well
   2. It’s all about culture change! Things can’t change if you don’t move people around
   3. Emma Vadehra, communicates what it mean to be selfish and do what’s in YOUR best interest, be vocal about where you want your career to take you.
   4. Go find a Mentor (Outside your agency) Find a new mentor every five years as you evolve in your career.
7. Establishing credibility can be difficult when moving from an Intern to a Career employee. Can you share tips on how to shift the perspective of your supervisor and be taken seriously?“Be the person you want to see”-Treat yourself as if you are the person you desire to be! Take ownership of your career path regardless of where you start. Remember, you get more by asking for more!
8. Name one trait that allowed you to be an influential leader?
   1. Integrity
   2. Jump In
   3. Learn “Hard Skills” i.e. Excel Training
   4. Take risk and make mistakes
   5. Listen “Hear what others interest are”
   6. Ask, Why not?
   7. When you see a challenge, bring a solution

From July 20th – 21st we’ll be blogging from GovLoop and YGL’s Next Generation of Government Training Summit. Follow along @NextGenGov and read more blog posts here.