David J Paul Project Management Professional, Management Professor, Author and Small Business Manager
The following list represents the responses from 757 Millennials and Gen-Y students and workers over a 10 year period of data collection ending in 2015. Their responses and the categories to which those responses were assigned can give you good insight to ‘how best to engage with’ those people who are important to you.
See which of these categories and responses ‘engage’ you.
I feel engaged at work when I am:
1. Allowed to Help
• When classmates help me and I help them on school work
• Manager asks for my help
• At home, I feel rewarded when I help out my little brother and sister with their homework and quiz preparations.
• Somebody asks for my help for a class.
• When I help others go through similar situations I went through
2. Allowed to Lead
• I feel encouraged when my team at work picks me to be the head of an important task
• Others follow my leadership
3. Asked for Help or Asked for Help or Opinion
• Teammates ask me for tips on proper techniques
• Someone asks me technical questions
• When my opinion is asked
4. Complimented
• People compliment my hard work at work or school
• My boss compliments my work
• When customers compliment me
5. Cultural Sensitivity
• Respect for and being sensitive to cultural differences
6. Feeling Equity or Fairness Evident
• Projects have reasonable deadlines
• When my salary and the salary of others is based on performance (fairness)
7. Feel Appreciated
• When my manager or other employees tell me that I am doing a good job and notice the effort I am putting in. I even feel appreciated when I compliment someone on a good job and they are thankful that I noticed them working hard.
• Appreciation if I do a good job
• Contributions are valued and recognized
8. Feel Cared For
• My company ensures my safety
• Dad calls to see how I’m doing
• When my aunt calls me to talk about random stuff
9. Feel Encouraged and Supported
• When I am given constructive feedback
• I am provided support to accomplish my goals
• co-workers talk to me about my future goals and encourage me and give me advice
10. Feel Important
• Separate cubicle
• When my boss really needs me to complete a task rather than others
• Motivated when I feel being part of the organizational planning and efforts toward achieving a given goal
• When the work I do matters
11. Feel Part of a Team
• The manager treats me as more than just a number
• People are on time and do their part
• I’m included in activities outside the office
• There’s a team spirit that we all feel
12. Feelings Taken Into Consideration
• When my boss takes the time to listen to my concerns
• When my boss regards my feelings and values
• My boss understands what motivates me
• My family issues are understood
• When someone considers how a decision might impact my life
13. Friendliness
• I plan an event with or for my friends like a baseball game, party night, club night, and we all go hang out and have fun.
• When I feel comfortable asking many questions to my boss–when boss shows a friendly attitude
• When I feel care and intimacy from the surroundings
• Greet me in the morning
14. Given Opportunity to Do Best
• Clear instructions, reasonable blame
• I have flexibility to accomplish tasks
15. Input into Decision Making
• Consulted about policies that affect me directly
• My inputs count
16. Increased Responsibility
• My boss let me handle difficult and important work
• Given additional responsibilities
17. Listened To
• People listen to me, I listen to people
• People listen to my inputs
• Listen and don’t ignore me
18. Meaningful Work
• The manager asks me to complete an important, special project
• When they give me interesting projects
• My work is meaningful and of value
• My job is inspiring and interesting
19. Open Lines of Communication
• Appreciates and provides a positive or Negative feedback
• I am given constructive feedback on my performance
• I feel great if we talk about the issues
20. Others are Helpful
• My peers help me when needed
• When my boss helps me balance my work/family life
• When I needed assistance from other employees and they are glad to help me.
21. Personal Acknowledgement
• My manager asks me about how I am doing at school
• My manager asks me how my life is going outside of work
• My boss and co-workers ask how my day is going
• Ask me how a specific event was, after it passed
• When the interactions at work are more than “just get this done”
22. Personal Interest and Connection
• Boss cares about me outside of work
• Others check-in with my personal life/will listen to my stories.
• Co-workers want to know you on a more personal level, where you do things outside of work
• My boss cares about my personal life and doesn’t treat me like a number
23. Praised
• My parents say that they are proud of me
• I receive praise for my efforts from my peers
24. Productive
• I am provided resources to accomplish my goals
• My worklist is checked off because I know I’m getting the work done
25. Professional Acknowledgement
• Being rewarded at work for doing a good job or going above and beyond
• I’m acknowledged for my work being done
• I get a performance raise(salary increase)
• When I am rewarded for a good deed or job I have done
26. Professional Growth and Nurturing
• I am asked to be a trainer
• My mistakes are met with constructive criticism
• Manager asks if she could eliminate any problems that are keeping me from accomplishing any objective
• My boss cares about my work and my career growth with the company
• When management is concerned about a career development opportunity
27. Receive Special Treatment
• I am allowed flexible work hours
• My boss handed me a birthday ballon on my birthday
• My boss buys me lunch and brings me coffee
• I get away with stuff
• When my schedule is accommodated
28. Regarded
• People think of me
29. Relaxed Environment
• My work is not micromanaged
• They let me enjoy holidays in peace
30. Shown Respect
• My colleagues respect the work I do and not criticize it
• Honesty
• When my kids listen to me
• I am communicated to in a respectful matter, not as a subordinate
• When someone makes the effort to prepare for a discussion
31. Trusted
• When a supervisor gives me a challenging assignment because they know I can do it.
• When I have a free rein to make a calculated and major decisions like where to invest saved money
• I am empowered to make decisions
• My supervisors don’t find it necessarey to know where I am every minute of the day
32. Valued Thoughts and Opinions
• They ask for my opinioin on problems and how to solve them
• Others look to me for help
• Co-workers will ask for help or opinion s about an issue and hold senior co-workers with high standing
• My superior asks for my inputs
The Cameron Group, Inc. 