Speaking as one of the senior category respondents I would say NO! A commitment to social media does not mean they are able to communicate effectively with peers and other age groups. Consider when a millennial is on the phone with you trying to sell you something, if they are not trained to age-aware or word-usage sensitive the selling or support processes break down. You can also hear impatience and frustration in their voice in more than a few instances. Perhaps the senior generation is expecting too much of the millennials to afford for them to treat a client/consumer/member with respect and understanding, and not make it sound patronizing.

With regard to the workplace specifically, it seems that a lot of effort on the part of companies is expended trying to sell the millennial employees on the "culture" found at the recruiting company. Too little is stressed on the added experience and continued education and acquisition of new skills that they will gain by being a member of their ensemble.

As a former onboarding trainer for a high growth rate internet advertising company, I can say that the attitude of the incoming fresh grads and hires was disappointing. It was clear that their major channel of communication of choice was social media, but that their in-person (and phone) multiple age-aware communications skills were sorely lacking.

Retention was not a serious objective as it was felt by the corporate management was "they either like the environment and perform or they get disillusioned with the expectations placed on them and leave". The quotations are mine but the phrase was a common lament with recruitment leaders and management alike.

Hi Bart,

Thought provoking and a bit dramatic of a question. I do not believe that millennials are the royalty of the modern workplace nor to classify them as a Fad. They are representing the modern workplace and as with every generation bring change and a new outlook on many social fronts. For me I lead many Millennials, by Fatherhood (and yes I am a boomer) I have four as children, as an executive leading a large team I have 100 in my employ and as a Leader in Retail have millions as consumers. Millennials are exciting, connected, different, challenging, open to outcome, flexible in approach, they operate from a strong sense of self which includes not following those they do not align with. So how does this impact the workplace and will it return to where it was? Simply No, the workplace as with all other aspects of our lives is ever changing. I for one believe change is good and healthy and needed in the workplace. My advice for those not adopting this view is to consider not hoping for the ways of the past instead engage with the new team as they admire strong and participatory Leaders and possibly we can learn more from them then the other way around.