Recently I had an interesting conversation with an IT executive about his technical staff, and we ended up talking about “millennials,” the generation of adults currently in their twenties and early thirties. He said their narcissism, lack of resilience, an attitude of entitlement and poor work ethic had caused terrible issues for him.

But he said he found the solution. “I don’t hire them anymore,” he said. “That’s why my staff has people from Ecuador, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia, and all the Americans I have are over 40.”

In her book, Dr. Connell describes “millennials” in detail. She reveals the gap between what these young adults were taught to expect and the realities of a challenging workplace. Like my friend, many employers are concluding that despite their college degrees, too many young adults of this generation are not prepared for to contribute in the workplace.

Most of her book describes solutions – what employers and millennials need to do differently to be successful. According to Connell, these young adults have a lot to learn, things their parents didn’t teach them, things they didn’t learn from life, and things they weren’t taught in college:

  • Accept imperfection
  • Build resilience
  • Develop independence
  • Polish communication skills
  • Foster creativity

Easier said than done. But defining the problem as clearly as Dr. Connell does and outlining realistic solutions is a great beginning.

And helping your child develop vital thinking skills is perhaps the best way to prepare them for leaving the nest. My new book: How Your Teen Can Grow a Smarter Brain.

You can grow the bond with your child through better listening. Download the FREE ebook, Listening to Understand.