10 Ways to Impress Your Millennial Boss

Follow the Three “W’s”

We constantly need to hold clients accountable, manage expectations and tell each other what we’re relying on. I never want to wonder, “What are you doing? When will I see that? Why are you doing it?” I created the three “W”s, which stand for “What you are doing,” “Why you are doing it,” and “When it will be done.” Communicate these constantly to your clients, team and me, and you’ll be golden.

-Beck Bamberger of BAM Communications

Be Passionate

I love seeing people enjoy their work. Motivation can be fleeting when work gets hard, but if you truly enjoy what you are working on then you will do a better job. This will make you stand out to your boss and colleagues. Enjoying your job is a choice, so why not be passionate about what you do day in and day out?

-Douglas Hutchings of Picasolar 

Go Above and Beyond

I have an employee that’s always using his free time to advance the company through extra projects of his own doing (with prior company approval of course). And while I certainly don’t recommend going overboard, just the fact that he’s always thinking about what else can we do is remarkable. Showing the occasional initiative in this direction would impress your boss substantially.

-Nicolas Gremoin of Free-eBooks.net 

“Mind Map” Your Projects

Tracking projects with mindmaps can show a Millennial boss that you are interested, extremely organized and willing to go above and beyond. Mind mapping can show you can multitask effectively — a must when working with Millennials — and that you can keep up with multiple demands. Mind mapping is a powerful tool can be used to track varied projects and to incorporate task and project management.

-Marcela De Vino of Mulligan Funding

Do Nice Things for Your Team

Many of our teammates bring snacks, order pizza or bake cupcakes for the whole team. We’ve had teammates also go out for lunch and on their way, stopped at a frozen yogurt stop to pick up a few cups to give to everyone back at the office. Going out of the way to do something nice to for your teammates is the best way to impress.

-Nanxi Liu of Enplug

Speak Up

New team members tend to be hesitant to voice their opinion, but if done correctly it can be a quick way to establish yourself as a leader while impressing your Millennial boss. Nothing impresses me more than when a new young and hungry team member offers a solution to a challenge we’re facing.

-Clayton Dean of Circa Interactive 

Add Value

Millennial bosses didn’t get there following old school tactics; they got there by having a focus on efficiency and effectiveness. If you want to impress the boss, show the boss how you can add major value to the company and do it! Every boss wants employees who are exceptional and provide great value to the team.

-Jeff Cayley of Worldwide Cyclery 

Show Up at Social Events

While contributions on the job will take precedence, sometimes remarks or insights shared about work at a social event are most memorable. We were recently at a hockey game and the discussion there surprisingly was equally productive as a boardroom meeting. Take every chance you can to reveal why you’re valuable by offering a unique perspective on a current issue or upcoming opportunity.

-David Ciccarelli of Voices.com 

Harness Your Creativity Thinking

What impresses me about a new team member is when they aren’t afraid to contribute, speak up and share their ideas — I like to think of it as “sprinkling their magic pixie dust.” We work in a creative environment where collaboration and teamwork are key. New members should bring a fresh approach to showcase their unique way of thinking.

-Rakia Reynolds of Skai Blue Media

Be Knowledgable

Speaking up with ideas can get you noticed — but supporting these ideas with trending research and examples from the industry (not your old textbooks) will show you’re strategically engaged and self-motivated.

-Sam Saxton of Paragon Stairs 

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