The Apology
I think the hardest thing for non Millennials to understand about Millennials is that most have been taught a collaborative style of conflict management. Win-Win. It’s not that they don’t get competition, it’s just that they’ve had decades of training from teachers, coaches, counselors and therapists to open up and speak their inner reality as the first step in conflict resolution. “Use I statements” is a form of mantra for them. So, if you hear a Millennial start to share their inner world, think of it as like a dog rolling over and showing you their belly. They’re saying “sorry” in the only way they’ve been taught.
Think about how conflict has evolved…
Tommy throws a rock and hits Sally…
G.I. Generation (1901–1926) — Boys will be boys!
Silent Generation (1927–1945) — Boys will be boys, Tommy apologize!
Boomer Generation (1946–1964) — Conflict is a product of our violent society!
Generation X (1965–1981) — Conflict is a product of family upbringing!
Generation Y or Millennials (1982–2000) — Conflict is internal turmoil!
Generation Z (2001-) — ?
Conflict is an inner state experience that is treated with therapy.
In class, I’ll use The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a discussion on motivation. Bill Gates started out pursuing what interested him and there was almost zero thought on building an empire, much less building something as useful to society as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For most Millennials, philanthropy is where they start, not the end designation.
Without getting to heady here… most Millennials are taught to aspire towards a Teal Meme Consciousness