Nick Candito is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Progressly, the first cloud-based Operational Performance Management platform. He’s a Millennial who made this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Millennials are often viewed by members of previous generations as being “difficult” or “entitled” and a pain to work with. When asked about his generation’s reputation, Candito doesn’t leap to their defense. “Millennials get a bad rap — perhaps deservedly,” Candito explains. “While there are exceptions, generally speaking, Millennials have less patience and fewer skills than people of earlier generations. They’re more finicky, entitled and restless. They’re also less loyal to corporations, and usually take full advantage of happy hours, vacation time and other perks.
But his reflections on his path to his current position show something quite different: “After graduating from Bryant University in 2010, I tried to seize every opportunity I could get. I eventually served as Head of User Success and Business Operations for RelateIQ, which was later acquired by Salesforce.com for just under $400 million. Then, in late 2014, I co-founded Progressly, the world's first cloud-based Operational Performance Management solution. Progressly’s mission is to enable every buyer of their solution to perform better and solve bigger problems. We launched our Series A funding in 2016 with over $6 million. Today, our company is thriving, thanks in large part to a driven, smart and dedicated team made up primarily of Millennials! I believe that my company is representative of the American workforce as a whole. According to a Pew Research, Millennials now represent the largest subgroup of the nation’s employees, at 53.5 million. That number is only going to go up.”
He continues: “We Millennials are, in fact, the future of the American and the global workforce. That idea is both unnerving and inspiring. It’s inspiring because we could become the next Great Generation — a generation that uses technological advancements and incredible developments like the cloud to change the world for the better. Unnerving because what if the stereotypes about Millennials are actually true? A bright and promising future can’t be built on insolence, laziness, and petulance.”
So: what can Millennials do right now, in their current jobs, to overcome these stereotypes? Candito offers six ideas:
- Don’t Be a Spectator
“We Millennials always want ‘in’ on the big picture. Where’s the company headed? What’s next? The best employers share details about the company’s bigger and broader goals. But that’s only half the story. The other side is you. Don’t be afraid to lead by example and make your presence felt, even if you may not hold much seniority within an organization. As you continue to earn bigger and bigger responsibilities, the higher ups will trust you more, and recognize that your opinions can help shape the direction of the organization.”
- Don’t Assume You Know Anything
“Becoming knowledgeable takes time. Millennials are used to sharing our ideas and opinions —and often have parents who care to listen — but we have much more to learn. Making suggestions and contributions makes us feel important and like a part of the team. When a more experienced colleague suggests a brilliant idea, that’s your opportunity to gather some of that brilliance for the next time, and absorb some practical knowledge.”
- Don’t be Afraid to Grow Your New Social Network
“We Millennials already love to network. We’re the first generation of so-called digital natives. Networking can benefit our employers, too, by attracting more job talent and leading to new connections and partnerships. We should embrace our natural tendency to connect with our peers and use networking to extend our reach.
- Understand That Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight
“As earlier generations knew: success doesn’t come on a silver platter. It comes with hard work. The process makes it worthwhile because you appreciate success more when it comes through your efforts. That said, delayed gratification wasn’t part of our upbringing as Millenials. Remember that it will take time to earn trust and create a body of work that shows your teammates, boss and organization that you’re 100% in it for the long haul. To steal a page from the Baby Boomers’ book, hard work and gratification should be part of the journey — not just the rewards.”
- Accept an Imperfect Balance
“Putting in some extra effort is the key to being seen as a team player. Certain occasions call for extra work hours, flexibility and commitment. On those occasions, we Millennials ought to clock some extra time to show that we really do care. It all comes down to owning the responsibility of our positions. When duty calls, we need to answer. Afterward, we can unwind knowing that we’ve come through. Even the drink at the bar will taste that much better.”
- Communicate Well
“This is a broad piece of advice, and easier said than done, but there are certain things we as Millennials can do in the realm of communication to show our employers that we’re not among the entitled or lazy or selfish cohort. Always be available, and stay in touch with what’s going on. Not being snarky is another aspect of communicating well. Sometimes our first instinct when requested to do something that doesn’t seem to make sense is to get snarky. Take a moment to step back and really try to understand the request, and then respond accordingly. If their POV still doesn’t make sense, ask pertinent questions instead of becoming surly or combative. Often what seem like arbitrary or unreasonable demands are simply poorly communicated ideas, because people are too busy to spell things out clearly.”
In summary, Candito says: “Millennials need to get rid of the idea that you’re the smartest person in the room, or that success will come overnight, or that you can get by just hanging out in the background or without working some overtime. We Millennials grew up with instant gratification and the digital universe literally at our fingertips. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from the generations that came before. There’s a business saying that’s apt: attitude is everything. Although we may not stay as long at our jobs as our parents or grandparents did, we need to approach every new position as a learning experience. Most importantly, a little humility, pleasantness and a cooperative attitude will go a long way towards counteracting Millennial stereotypes.”
While Candito’s advice is primarily for Millenials like himself, it’s wisdom that should apply to all of us.
