Ray Hefner, Executive Director The Voice Newsletter August 2023

At one time or another, we have all heard the statement, “work smarter not harder,” which is the mantra of the Millennials and something each practices every day. One of the many things I have learned during my career is to have an open mind and be willing to learn every step of the way. In other words, have an open mind and recognize that Millennials have it right! Let me preface this by saying there is nothing wrong with a “hard days work,” but is it a means to an end? No, not necessarily! If you are a Baby Boomer (Born 1946 -1964) or Gen Xer (1965 – 1980), read on. If you are a millennial, you will probably understand and recognize the information I am detailing below, but I encourage you to read on because Millennials deserve a “thank you” for making the “seasoned” workforce work smarter!

So, what are a few key things Millennials can teach the “seasoned” workforce? First, develop a morning routine that makes a difference. This does not mean getting to the office at 6:00 A.M. and drinking two cups of coffee and reading the paper while shuffling papers on your desk. It means doing meaningful things to get you ready for the day! Take five minutes and mediate and clear your mind to get ready for the challenges of the day ahead. You might scoff at this idea, but I would suggest you try it and see the focus you can achieve before the workday officially starts! If that is not your cup of tea or coffee for that matter, take five minutes to read something that enriches your mind and gets your brain thinking and your creative juices flowing. You won’t be sorry! Thoughtful cognitive practices will enhance your ability to assess and solve problems. Try this, it works!

Second, keep your “to do” list short! If you have eighteen or twenty things on your “to do” list, they will not get done effectively. You may complete them all (probably not), but each task will not receive the attention is supposed to if it is going to get the best result. Best idea, cut your “to do” list into three to five things, which are manageable and achievable in the workday. By doing this, each task will receive more time and effort, while ultimately yielding a superior result. This is easily done by “clustering” your work. Set specific times to answer your phones calls, be it in the morning or afternoon. This will ensure all calls are answered in a timely manner and those people on the receiving end will appreciate and begin to understand you return calls at a specific time and there is nothing left to chance.

Third, practice “inbox zero” an email approach to answering emails. Unsure of what this means? Productivity expert Merlin Mann introduced the concept of "Inbox Zero" in 2006. According to Mann, the zero isn't a reference to the number of messages in an inbox, but rather "the amount of time an employee's brain is in his inbox." Mann's point is that time and attention are finite, and productivity suffers when an inbox is confused with a to-do list. Click here to learn more about "inbox zero."

Fourth, just like you have a morning routine, you need an end of the day routine. Your end of the day routine is just as important as the morning routine because it prepares you for the next day. Take whatever tasks you did not complete during the day and prepare your “to do” list for tomorrow. These will be first up, so they are addressed timely. How else can you close out your day? Clean off your desk! A messy desk does not mean you are working hard! In fact, if you are working in an office with an “open” working space, it can send the wrong message to your colleagues about your work. There are several schools of thought regarding this issue, but if clutter and the mess impede your ability to find things and do you work, clean it up! It will make a difference in your cognitive ability to do your tasks because your mind will not feel cluttered and messy. In fact, with a clean desk, you will find it easier to stay focused on your three to five tasks.

There is much to write about what can be learned from millennials and this is the tip of the iceberg! I would be remiss if I did not mention to measure yourself by results not your time. Ask yourself, would a firefighter take four hours to put out a fire when it could be done in thirty minutes? Of course, not, and neither should you! So, if you have not listened to your Millennial coworker this week, give a listen. There is much to learn!