Part II: There is no success without sustainability for individuals, organizations, society, and the environment.

If you haven’t had a chance to read an earlier post, this is a continuation of a discussion with a Professor of IMD School of Business about millennials and their culture at work. This section is about a new metric of success for aspiring employees, managers and leaders:

There is no success without sustainability for individuals, organizations, society, and the environment.

One of the many things we have been observing with this younger generation is the spirit of hope that they wear so naturally, even if it’s perceived that they are more entitled than their elders. One might argue we have all been considered more spoiled than our past generation, thanks to our parents wanting more for us than what they had. Still, this sense of purpose has been a very large beacon worn on the sleeve of most within this target group, more so than even my generation X. Perhaps they’ve seen all too well how more stuff does not equate to a more fulfilled life. 

In fact, I can say for certain that I’ve watched GenX work harder than ever, with less return on sweat equity. And this might be another important trigger for this newer workforce. They are simply not willing to give it their all anymore. Life means more than a paycheck.

And so, the millennials have done a better job of integrating social purpose with business purpose. And now the workforce has to adapt to this new way of thinking, if companies are going to attract and retain talent.