If you are a Silver Entrepreneur, or a bit older than today’s youth, you may have thought about how you are going to connect and work with millennials. And perhaps now you are giving more thought to how you can support them in today’s workforce. The first step is understanding their work motivations. 

Today’s younger generations work to live, rather than live to work. They're looking for a lifestyle. The way they choose to work or where they work can be due to numerous reasons: location, the work activity itself, or the purpose of the organization.

Millennials are not always just working for a paycheck. They're working to fulfill other needs in their lives. They want to know that whatever they're doing for you is also contributing to their increasing skills and knowledge as a person. Once you understand this, you can find ways to support them in their efforts. Perhaps you can help them with getting a specific certification, offer hours which allow them to explore a specific lifestyle, or clearly define your organization’s purpose or mission. 

The younger generation often gets a bad rap—being referred to as entitled. Well, think about it. We have given so much support to the newer generation that they haven't had that experience of failure or learning to perceive when things aren't going right. 

We can support them and help them to become self-sufficient. Allow them to make their mistakes, grow from them and move on. Failure is a great opportunity to learn. 

The key to working with and communicating with millennials starts with understanding and continues with acceptance and support. In the wise words of Marvin J. Ashton remember, “Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.”