Tip #602- Marketing to Millennials & How 5 Brands are Adjusting to Earn Millennial Loyalty

More and more brands are reevaluating their marketing strategies, product offerings, and brand experiences in an effort to earn Millennial loyalty. However, marketing to Millennials continues to be a moving target. But for many brands a shift towards Millennial marketing is worth the risk if they can earn the loyalty of the world's largest and soon to be the most spending power generation.

1.) Target "deemphasizes" canned and bagged goods in their stores.

In an effort to appeal to Millennial consumers, Target will focus more on organic, fresher, and healthier foods. Products that are processed will be given less exposure and promotions. According to Fortune, Target's goal is to "look less like Walmart and more like Whole Foods."                       

2.)   Starbucks unveils an alternative music plan.

Earlier this year, Starbucks announced that they will no longer sell CDs in their stores. Starbucks has decided to appeal to Millennial consumers with a streaming service. In a partnership with Spotify, Starbucks consumers can now curate playlists and share between the 16 million My Starbucks Reward Members, baristas and Spotify subscribers whether they are in-store or on the go. More on this story here.

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Tip #601- Three Ways to Make a Positive First Impression

Dale Carnegie said, "When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion."  Whether meeting new customers, employers, prospects or team members, it is critical to make a positive, memorable first impression.  The latest research shows you only have a tenth of a second to make a first impression.

As you attend graduation parties, weddings and other summer celebrations, start practicing the following ways to make a positive first impression.

Mind your body language.  The first step in making a positive first impression is to use your body language to communicate effectively.  Even if you've mastered a firm handshake and solid eye contact, you can still use your non-verbal communication to convey information.  For example, leaning in when you talk shows that you are making a sincere effort to engage the other person.  Dale Carnegie's 7th Human Relations principle is, 'Be a good listener.  Encourage others to talk about themselves.'  Making appropriate facial expressions in response to what the other person says shows that you are actively listening. Human beings want to be heard, so use your body language in addition to your verbal communication to demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in the other person-Mr. Carnegie's 4th principle.

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Tip #600 Three Ways to Effectively Engage Millennials in Today's Workplace

Millennials (born between 1980 and 1996) in the U.S. are on track to become the most educated generation in American history.  As the estimated 2.8 million millennials graduate from college this month with bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, many will it difficult to land fulfilling jobs.  Consider these facts according to Gallup's latest report, How Millennials Want to Work and Live:

 

Millennials want to be engaged in their jobs, which means they yearn to be emotionally and behaviorally connected to them, however only 29% of millennials are engaged in their current roles.

 Millennials have the highest rates of unemployment and underemployment in the U.S.

Compensation is no longer the primary driver as millennials value purpose over paycheck.

Millennials are pursuing development and growth in employment opportunities over fancy latte machines and entitlements as they consider the latter to be condescending. 

Instead of fixing their weaknesses, millennials want to develop their strengths.

One thing is for certain, the merging of more millennials into today's workforce means the will of our world is changing-and we must change as well.  Here are three ways to engage millennials in order to effectively manage them.

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Tip #599 Four Habits that Cultivate Productivity

Working smarter, not harder, requires developing the following four healthy habits.

1. Develop a morning routine. On the subject of cultivating a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness, Dale Carnegie said, "Fill your mind with thoughts of peace courage, health and hope." That's an impossible feat if you start each day haphazardly. People who begin the day with the right routine set a positive tone for the entire day, minimize stress and maximize momentum. The goal of a morning routine is not to do the exact same thing every single morning; rather, it's to minimize variations. Only you know which activities will benefit you most such as meditation, exercise, journaling, etc. so design a routine with activities that work best for you. Eating a protein-rich breakfast will provide you with the energy you need to pump up your productivity, and help keep your focus sharp all day so you can accomplish as much as possible.

2. Designate time for email. Sounds simple, but in our speedy society where immediate gratification and response have become the norm, this can be very challenging. Instead of constantly checking email or responding to message notifications, carve out some specific times during your workday for email. If this idea makes you cringe, consider the facts.

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Tip #598 6 Millennial Motivators: A Guide To What Motivates Millennials At Work

Where there are unmotivated Millennial employees you will find uninspired leaders who lead teams of anxious, job-hop-in-a-heartbeat Millennials. For the leaders eager to spark change and energy into their organizations there are specific Millennial motivators that can be leveraged to ignite Millennial hustle and extend Millennial retention.

1) Innovation

78% of Millennials were strongly influenced by how innovative a company was when deciding if they wanted to work there. (The 2014 Millennial Study)

66% of Millennials work in organizations that actively encourage/reward its people for innovative ideas. (Deloitte)

Millennials want to change the world and they believe innovation is the catalyst. They will lean into their high-tech and hyper-connected upbringing to find answers to today's complex problems. Innovation matters to Millennials...big time.

Example: LinkedIn has their own internal incubator where employees are encouraged to innovate. Once a quarter, employees can come up with a new idea, put a team together, and pitch their idea to the executive team. If their idea is approved, they are able to spend up to 3 months time dedicated to turning the idea into something that benefits the company.

2) Flexibility

73% of Millennials expect to be able to modify and customize their work computer; 63% will go around IT to find the solutions they need. (Mobile Enterprise)

69% of Millennials believe office attendance is unnecessary on a regular basis. (Cisco)

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Tip #597- Four Ways To Be Less Awkward Around Your Boss

Have you ever struggled to make small talk with your boss or raised your hand for a high-five when her intention was a handshake?  Awkward moments like these happen to everyone, smooth-talkers included. Navigating a healthy relationship with your boss is possible with the right skills.

Here are four ways to be less awkward around your boss and instead, develop a rewarding and productive relationship. 

Stop overanalyzing.  Often times, one move made by an employee's boss spawns a series of questions-did she sigh because she thinks my report is boring or because she is disappointed in my findings?  Does she really think I'm finally ready for the next level or was she being sarcastic?  Reading into every comment or move to ascertain its true meaning can be quite debilitating.  

For example, if during an annual review you become hung-up one point of constructive criticism, you will inevitably lose sight of where you performed well.  To error is human, and your boss is a human being as well.  At the end of the day, instead of isolating one comment, think about your total interactions with your boss over a month's period of time.  You will most likely let the comment go when you consider the overall picture of your relationship vs. one individual aspect. 

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Tip #595: Three Reasons to Make Employee Engagement a Top Priority

While U.S. employee engagement reached its highest level in March at 34.1%, engagement levels have not exceeded 33% since 2012.  Employee engagement is defined as the level at which employees are emotionally invested in, and focused on, creating value for their organizations every day.  While there is an increased focus on the necessity and impacts of employee engagement, few organizations have taken action to ultimately grow engagement levels.    

Here are three reasons why organizations must make employee engagement a top priority.

1. Managers matter most.  In Gallup's latest report, State of the American Manager, which is based on over four decades of extensive talent research, the crucial links between talent, engagement and key performance indicators (KPI's) are examined to reveal the characteristics of great managers.  The research reveals that managers account for as much as 70% of variance in employee engagement scores.  This means that most managers are failing to create an environment in which employees feel comfortable and are motivated to perform at peak levels.

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Tip #594: Cope with Conflict in Five Healthy Steps

Do you ever struggle to control your negative emotions when encountering conflict with a co-worker, friend or even your boss?  Often times, people lash out or engage in an unproductive round of sparring which proves fruitless and may even destroy the relationship.  Effectively managing conflict requires emotional intelligence and the following steps to maintain an open, versus oppressive, dialogue.

Commence breathing deeply.  When a conflict arises, whether it's a disagreement about opinions, values or preferences, our bodies have both physiological and psychological responses.  Think about the last time someone said something that infuriated you.  Most likely, you could feel your blood pressure increase and your palms became sweaty. This is because the two amygdalae you have on either side of your brain perceived a threat and properly responded by releasing adrenaline and cortisol into your system.  To counteract these physiological effects, begin taking smooth, rhythmic and deep breaths which will stop the release of these stress hormones.

Hone in on your body language.  As you breathe, bring awareness to your non-verbal communication.  Relax your shoulders and open your hands instead of, for example, folding your arms or pressing on your temples since these actions communicate defensiveness and aggravation.  

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Tip #593: Five Earth Day Activities to Engage Employees

An estimated 500 million people will participate in various Earth Day activities worldwide, so why not use it as an opportunity to strengthen camaraderie and tap into teamwork?  Several employee studies conclude that morale and employer confidence increase when businesses implement productive green initiatives.  Additionally, in many recent surveys, consumers have stated that they are more likely to do business with an eco-conscious company.

Here are five ways to engage employees on Earth Day, which is on April 22nd.

Game on!  Dale Carnegie's 21st Human Relations principle is, 'Throw down a challenge.'  There are many ways to turn Earth Day into a co-worker competition.  For example, three companies in Texas broke the world record for collecting and shredding 11,920 pounds of paper in a 24-hour period.  Be creative in terms of team assemblies-match department against department or the Executive Team against individual department teams.  Consider launching a departmental old technology drive where employees can bring in broken or old computers, cell phones, printers and other devices.  The team with the most units wins. Contact your local school board to see if the functioning equipment is needed or a computer recycling firm to retrieve everything.  You could also join worldwide movements such as Billion Acts of Green, or Earth Hour. 

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Tip #591: New Year Resolution Check-In-4 Psychologist's Secrets to Success

Are you among half of the Americans which research suggests set New Year's resolutions each year?  If so, with the first quarter behind us, it's time to measure success.  Consider how you've fared thus far and if you are disappointed in your performance, you're not alone-only 8% of Americans actually achieve their resolutions.

Don't be discouraged.  Dale Carnegie said, "Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success."  To get back on track, here are four psychologist's secrets to making your resolutions stick.

Review your goals.  One of the reasons you may struggle with your resolutions is because you did not use the 'SMART' method of goal-setting when you devised them.  Dr. Paul Marciano is the author of Carrots and Sticks Don't Work and cautions that the first step to behavior change is to clearly understand what "it" is and set 'SMART' goals.  Make sure your goals are: 

Specific - Articulate your goal in a clear statement that states exactly what needs to be done.

Measurable - Tracking progress helps to maintain momentum and focus, especially for big goals that may be comprised of a series of smaller tasks or steps. 

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