Recently, I was approached by final year students of Human Resource Management from Madras School of Social work for my comments on Millennials. Here is the transcript of my audio interview.
Let’s first understand about millennials, their growing up years, psychological needs, aspirations, etc. before we proceed with this interview.
Social scientists roughly define those born between 1982 and 2004 as millennials. For our interview purpose, I am going to restrict my sample space to those born and living in urban India. Most of the millennials who I knew were born in nuclear families and may have had 1 sibling at most. As a result, they had very little opportunity for inculcation of values and tradition by grandparents in their early years and had no opportunity to share and care. There is a very high probability of both parents were working and gave them very little time and love in their younger years. They washed the guilt by giving them easy access to money. Love and mentoring was replaced by money, gadgets and freedom. Millennials also grew up in a very corrupt environment where bribes were paid for their school admission, driving license, passport, college admission to jobs, seeding a wrong thought that money can buy everything.
Having set the background for this generation, let’s move on to your questions.
1. Technology – is it a boon or bane for millennials to attain self- actualization?
In earlier generations, food, clothing and shelter were at the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid. But for millennials, wifi and smart phones have been added to this layer. This generation replaced grandparents with Google and human companionship with playlists and games. They make friendships online, order food and grocery online and also make a living online. In fact wifi and technology brings them more comfort than food, clothing and shelter. As a result, self-actualization through technology is no more at the top of the pyramid.
During the 2015 floods, Chennai city was without power and connectivity for a week and millennials for the first time learned that there is a life outside of their mobile. Some desperate ones ran pillar to post to charge their mobiles and get connectivity, while many chucked their mobiles and jumped in to rescue those marooned and serve humanity. I hope this catastrophic event made them realize values and attain self-actualization through serving humanity and not technology.
2. Many millennials consider wealth as the ultimate attainment in life. But then the sense of enjoying life is missing. What is your perception on that?
If millennials were the only generation behind wealth, why would Muslim rulers invade India and British turn us into their colony for 300 years? A famous Thamizh poet Avvaiyar aptly said “Arul illarkku avvulagam illai, porul illarkku ivvvulagam illai” that roughly translates to “One needs grace to find a place in heaven and money to find a place on earth”.
I know millennials who’ve traded their cushy jobs and fat pay cheques to serve humanity (soup kitchens, teach for India, etc.). They support Diversity and Inclusion and have an open mind to bring about equality in the society.
Even if you have statistics to prove your statement, you must understand their growing up years. With both parents working, millennials grew up in a household where money was readily available to make up for lack of time and love. You tell me, why would they grow up to be any different when their upbringing was such? Remember, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
3. Millennials think about their careers in a more linear way. Is it possible from them to retain the excitement for a longer period of time?
I would like to recall billboards on Uttranchal ghat roads that say “Speeds thrills, but kills” and this caution is appropriate for anyone who is on the fast lane to life, fame and money.
Millennials have had immediate access to so many things (money, power, technology, freedom, etc.) without much wait or struggle. At the twiddle of their thumb they have access almost anything in this world. As a result, there is very low threshold to boredom and less appreciation for life.
Let’s not alone blame the millennials, but as a society make a conscious decision to slow down and enjoy life and nature. If not, we will leave nothing behind except lessons for the next generation.
A linear mind only thinks of the destination and fails to enjoy the journey. Similarly, millennials who focus on getting to the peak faster and miss out on the scenic journey that kills boredom and experience that comes along with slower journeys. After a few trips they sure to burn out and ponder over deeper meanings of life. I expect a more number of Aristotles' and Platos' among millennials.
4. What is the best way to train young leaders so they can affect change at a societal and global level?
When I read this question, what popped up in my mind was another question. Are leaders born or made? I strongly believe leaders are born and rise up to the occasion to lead the nation. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are great examples of emancipating their society.
Fundamentally there must be an opportunity in the society for a revolution to break out and a leader to emerge. History reveals that revolutions happened when the fundamentals in Maslow’s pyramid are denied to humanity. French Revolution was led due to shortage of bread, Russian Revolution ended autocratic rules of Tsars and India’s Independence was fueled by self-respect and self-esteem.
Millennials must end their addiction to devices and interact face-to-face with people and go in search of their grandparents who've been replaced by Siri or Cortana. They must also learn build meaningful lasting relationships, learn empathy and values to bring about any sustainable change in the society. If not they would be like Japanese - http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-39784444/rent-me-stranger-for-hire
