Selling change to millenial leaders

Millennials often take a people-first approach to decision-making, and diversity, inclusion and sustainability are of great importance in any workplace under Millennial leadership. Before approaching a business leader with a change project, it is important to consider how the project will positively impact these key areas.

Wellbeing has also become something of a buzzword for this group of decision-makers and cultivating a healthier work-life balance for employees is a priority. Millennials are increasingly wellbeing-minded, so it is crucial to consider how a change project will transform this side of an organisation.

Keeping in mind Millennial sustainability goals, digital transformation is one of the best ways to capture the interest of this new generation of leaders. For example, developing a digital filing system would:

• reduce paper consumption
• benefit the environment
• simply existing tasks
• boost efficiency
• improve team morale

This is exactly the kind of proposal that would speak to Millennials best.

Having grown up in an electronic and online environment, Millennials are far more likely to promote the digitalisation of the business world than their predecessors. They welcome the opportunity to learn new skills and actively encourage others around them to do the same.

It is also true that a successful change comes down to employees. A transformation project that stands the test of time requires a thorough training programme alongside it to ensure every employee is confident in their skills and role within a business. Therefore, it’s essential to consider a training programme prior to pitching a change project to a Millennial leader.

You can leave the hard sell at the door. Instead, aim to convince through forming an emotional connection rather than a sales pitch solution. It is always best to lead with evidence and emotion and avoid an overly forceful promotional approach. This generation is people-focused, so consider how the change project will impact individual employees. You should then convey this in the proposal, demonstrating thought and care where individuals are concerned.

Being the first generation to grow up online, Millennials have had unlimited information at their fingertips. As a result, they are particularly data-driven and far more likely to conduct thorough research prior to making a decision. By demonstrating through data how a given change project will bring transformation to a business, a business change proposal is guaranteed to land well among Millennials.