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Selling Suburbia to Millennials

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | Selling Suburbia to MillennialsMillennial homebuyers aren’t the traditional real estate clients. The latest information from the National Association of Realtors has millennials looking to get away from high urban rent rates and more toward the suburbs to find the perfect single-family home. While these individuals are wanting to move away for hip urban neighborhoods, they don’t want to give up their active lifestyles.

Moving into Hipsturbia

According to a recent trends report, “hipsturbia” is fast becoming the desired location for real estate hunters. Not only that, but developers like Aubrey Ferrao will find new income potential when they make investments into the cool suburbs that millennials are looking for. These new developments are looking for affordable homes that offer a vibrant downtown location within walking distance, but also have a variety of retail shopping locations, restaurants, recreation, and public transit options. The professional Aubrey Ferrao designs are looking to create this experience in the newest developments in Florida, but this trend is sweeping the nation. In spite of the fast-paced diversity of city life, millennials are migrating to outside the city limits and looking for a life that is much quieter but still has a slight city feel.

The Expanding Trend

The first reports on “hipsturbia” came back in 2013 when the New York Times reported that more people were moving to the vibrant communities that were just outside city limits. This trend has moved into major metro areas across the country, with communities like Santa Clara, CA being just one of the few bustling suburbs moving to add passive recreational space alongside new developments. Near Chicago, communities like Evanston still allow for a quick transit time into the heart of the Windy City but have invested in retail opportunities and rooftop bars to keep the local residents engaged in the community. Deep in Atlanta, suburban communities are using mixed-use developments that are within walking distance of housing to attract young workers to the location. Even smaller markets like Charlestown and Tempe, AZ are expanding their “hipsturbia” options.

The Commute Crisis

In addition to the assumption that suburban life was more dull and static than thriving city life, people originally put off moving outside of the city because of the distance and commute. Just like people have found out that small communities have the same charm and attraction as what they find in a big city, they are also finding that the commute isn’t really a sticking point. People start looking at an area because of the easy commute into the city, but once they settle in, the commute isn’t such a big deal. There are so many people with telecommuting positions or only needing to go to the city once a week for work that distance doesn’t discourage people from looking outside the city for work. They find that their businesses can grow just as well outside the city as it can within.

More Than Millennials

While millennials are the largest population fueling the growth in these popular suburban areas, there is a surprising amount of interest by the empty-nesters. Rather than moving toward the city once the children have grown and moved on, empty-nesters prefer to stay in their communities where everything is still within easy access. These couples also feel that it is a great location to have their grandchildren come and visit, in addition to being able to take part in age-related activities through the well-grounded and bustling community.

For a real estate investment that will offer much of the attraction of city life, moving into “hipsturbia” could be a great opportunity. You can find just about everything you need close to your home, and you won’t have to give up the lifestyle you are used to.

The Costs of Not Bridging the Gap Between Generations

It is now commonplace to hear stories of Boomer and GenX managers having difficulty managing Millennials in the workplace. Most managers look at it as having to deal with differences in attitudes and experience that can lead to frustration and resentment at its worst. The truth is that the actual monetary costs of not bridging this gap between generations can be tremendous. The inability for generations to relate well with one another leads to the following issues:


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About the Author

Marc RobertsonMarc Robertson, MBA, is the founder and president of NewSkills USA and has more than 25 years of experience in the media, entertainment, and technology industries. He is the author of Working with Millennials: Using Emotional Intelligence and Strategic Compassion to Motivate the Next Generation of Leaders (Praeger, February 29, 2016).

6 Things I’m Learning from Millennials

StrategyDriven Diversity and Inclusion ArticleMost of us have first-hand experience with just how ridiculous stereotypes can be.

I, for example, proudly break the stereotype of the reserved British person by being blunt and speaking my mind; seldom will you find me acquiescing about things I’m passionate about for the sake of English decorum.

While politeness is a stereotype that doesn’t personally cause me much grief, it’s important to remember that many stereotypes are actually quite dangerous—even the ones that seem harmless.

Take millennials, for instance. There’s no doubt that millennial talent represents a valuable asset for the continued success of many companies. However, much of the furor around unlocking the mysteries of millennials in order to win their talent does a unique disservice to an entire generation (and, for that matter, the generations of Boomers and Gen Xers as well) by forcing individuals into predefined silos of what broad groups of professionals are supposed to say and do:

  • Millennials are entitled.
  • Millennials can’t thrive in a traditional corporate structure.
  • Millennials can’t make decisions without everyone’s input.
  • Add your favorite millennial stereotype here.

I’m guilty of falling into this trap myself, but daily interactions with colleagues, friends, customers, and job candidates are constantly shaking loose many of the preconceived notions I have about working with millennials. Here are six things I’m learning.

1. Authenticity Beats Formality
I recently interviewed someone for a key role based in Dublin, one critical to the success of a new product. Eventually, the role will grow to cover the whole of Europe. In contrast to many candidates before her, this woman chose to forego a formal conference call or in-office meeting. Instead, the interview was held on Zoom (which the candidate had just downloaded onto her phone) from a cafe in Dublin. I was impressed with her drive, openness, expertise, and energy—the fact that she was in a cafe on her phone was irrelevant to her obvious competence. Her authentic self and desire to win beat any formality that other candidates may have felt were relevant. She got the job.

2. Matrix Beats Hierarchy
Driven millennials are great at getting the right things done through the matrix—no matter what. A colleague in our Atlanta business center recently took the initiative to enable a product feature that will drive more sales. Pulling this off required matrix management across IS, marketing, customer service, product management, and product development. Despite what might otherwise be a complicated juggling act, there was no hesitation or time wasted in waiting for senior personnel to weigh in or offer approval. Instead, the feature’s execution was handled quickly and efficiently, and when it appeared, everyone loved it.

3. Humility and Raw Ambition Go Hand in Hand
I am lucky enough to know a couple of hyper-successful millennials, one in sport and one in media. Both are internationally renowned; both have had almost overnight success; and yet both show extreme humility despite their stardom. Supportive messages from these people on WhatsApp or Twitter are a frequent sight (How can I help you? Is there anything you need? Really appreciate your feedback!). That’s not to say that these guys aren’t ambitious—they want more, they want to win, and they definitely want to earn big and be well known. They just do so in a way that takes people with them, and shows humility and appreciation every day.

4. Winning at Digital is Not a Millennial Thing
I have learned not to assume that all millennials are social media gurus. In fact, working with small businesses (a major facet of my day job) has shown me that plenty of millennial business owners don’t understand how to use social to market their businesses. Additionally, they often ignore digital business tools (like online accounting) that might help them to accomplish more. The truth is that anyone can adopt a “millennial mindset,” and doing so is essential for success in an increasingly digital world. For example, Richard Branson (who is decidedly NOT a millennial) has always been a fantastic example of someone who knows what it takes to build a brand—which today means taking full advantage to technology to transform your business and connect with customers; ignoring this instantly ages people, regardless of how old they actually are.

5. Diversity-mindedness Connects Us All
No-one knows it all. Human hunger for knowledge keeps us sharing, reading, learning, and connecting. Do millennials want to learn from older people more than those in the generations before them? Hard to say. However, an acceptance of people of all kinds—of diversity—is definitely a key component to the millennial mindset. And this open and inclusive perspective is one that can effectively bridge the generation gap between millennials and their older colleagues—provided that a respect for authenticity over formality, the matrix, and engagement versus top-down communication are shared priorities.

6. Transformation Matters, Logistics are Trivia
Job interviews often end with questions to the candidate and closing statements from the candidate to the interviewer. Here are some real examples of things I’ve heard. Guess who said what:

  • The commute is long—how flexible are you to working from home?
  • What is your take on corporate philanthropy?
  • What is your view on the USP that would enable this product line to leapfrog the competition?
  • What books are you reading at the moment and why?

That’s right – millennials!

For all business leaders looking to discover the secret to the millennial mind, here’s my advice: Millennials are just people—there is no special key to winning their talent or unleashing their abilities. The most important thing I’ve learned is that every person—millennial or otherwise—is nuanced, complex, and undeniably individual. Drive, pluck, and determination are ageless qualities, and those that have them are the ones that naturally rise to the top. That is no secret. If you want to learn what makes millennials tick, talk to them; ask questions; be genuinely curious without prejudice. Who knows what great potential you might discover once stereotypes are out of the picture?


About the Author

Nick Goode is the Vice President Product Management — Cloud & Sage One, Sage’s cloud accounting and payroll solution for start-ups and small businesses. Goode is accountable for the commercial, channel, product and marketing strategy for Sage One worldwide. Goode is previously Head of Sage One for Sage UK, and prior to that, Head of Marketing for the Accountants Division at Sage. His LinkedIn can be viewed at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgoodeuk and his Twitter handle is @nickgoode.

Three Millennial Mindsets to Embrace and Encourage

What drives leadership performance? Is it having the right principles or the right mindset? Some may say neither do.

Principles and mindset are not discussed often as being performance indicators. Communicating a vision, hiring the right people, and designing the right systems are more often highlighted as ways leaders can ensure performance. Although each are important, mindset and principles are the starting point, and Millennials are getting this right.

Principles and mindsets, however, may get bantered about with little distinction. Both are essential yet there is a difference.


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About the Author

Jon MertzJon Mertz is one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business and highlighted as one of the Leaders to Watch in 2015 by the American Management Association. He also is the author of Activate Leadership: Aspen Truths to Empower Millennial Leaders. Jon serves as vice president of marketing at Corepoint Health. Outside of his professional life, Jon brings together a community to inspire Millennial leaders and close the gap between two generations of leaders. Follow him on Twitter @ThinDifference or Facebook /ThinDifference

Rocking the Workplace: How the Millennial Generation is Shaking Up the Way You Do Business

Recruiters at Fortune 500 C.H. Robinson recently found themselves scratching their heads. They’d weathered stormy recruiting seas when sought-after Generation Xers showed up demanding everything from work/life balance to “bring your pet to work day” to casual dress. How hard could it be to adapt to a new generation of recruits – the Millennials? After all, in a soft economy employers should have the hiring advantage. Right?

Sure. Except for a few hiccups. Millennials (born 1982-2000) aren’t behaving the same ways Generation Xers did. They have a whole new set of attitudes and expectations when it comes to the workplace, and managers and recruiters are once again being called upon to see the world through a new set of eyes to get the most out of this challenging and influential generation. Take parental involvement. Instead of bringing their pets to work, Millennials seemed to be bringing Mom and Dad. Carmen Baas, a Recruiter at C. H. Robinson, commented: “We recently had the father of a candidate call one of our sales reps to talk about his son’s job offer so he could make a decision on whether or not his son should come work for us. I’ve also had parents attend career fairs in lieu of their children who had prior engagements.”


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About the Authors

Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman are nationally-known generational speakers, consultants, researchers, and the authors of the best-seller When Generations Collide (HarperCollins), and The M-Factor: How the Millennial Generation Is Rocking the Workplace (HarperBusiness/2010). Through their firm BridgeWorks, Lancaster and Stillman provide organizations with keynotes, training, corporate entertainment, and trainer certification. They have appeared on CNBC, CNN, and the Today Show. Learn more at www.generations.com.