Exploring Intra-generational Differences Among Young Millennial Leaders on the Perceived Required Leadership Competencies for the 21st Century

Abstract

With more millennials in the workforce today, a dominant body of literature tends to present them as a homogenous generation that share the same view on leadership. So far, very little studies are questioning if this generation is in fact, not more diverse and heterogeneous than shown. This paper addresses the currently accepted generalization of millennials’ views and expectations of leadership. This paper intends to study intra-generational differences on the perceived required leadership competencies for the 21st century among millennials. This qualitative phenomenological study is based on semi-structured interviews and compares two groups of millennial leaders. To meet the requirements of the lifespan approach for the age-related transition phase of graduate school-to-early professional life, one group is composed of young millennials leaders still in graduate school and the other group of young millennials leaders who have just entered the workforce. The results of the research reveal that there are differences among millennials on the perceived required leadership competencies for the 21st century and that some differences are based on the level of work experience. The research also tells that there is no consensus on how a generation perceived a phenomenon. This paper calls for more work on leadership based on the lifespan approach and it can be applied when conducting postmillennial and future millennials research on leadership. The findings of the research will help practitioners consider the differences among millennials, to adapt development programs and leadership approaches accordingly and to focus more on an inclusion and diversity management and not on single generation. The insights also call practitioners and leaders in academia to develop more training and learning opportunities for millennials on: customer centric approaches, digital transformation, sustainability business models, crisis management and financialization principles and applications.