--- title: Managing Millennials by Drew McLellan and Susan Baier description: Drew McLellan and Susan Baier share insights from their new research on managing millennials and keeping them happy and engaged. --- [Blog - Digital Marketing Agency, Niswey ](https://www.niswey.com/blog) # [Managing Millennials by Drew McLellan and Susan Baier](https://www.niswey.com/blog/managing-millennials) Written by [Madhura Birdi](https://www.niswey.com/blog/author/madhura-birdi) | Nov 10, 2016 2:33:37 PM Drew McLellan of Top Dog, MMG/Agency Management Institute, and Susan Baier, Owner of Audience Audit, took the stage in the morning to share the findings from their new research on managing millennials. Also known as “Generation Y” and “Generation Me”, millennials are typically accused of being lazy and entitled. > [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) don’t like being called millenials. [@Susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796381892761227266) But a large part of the world’s workforce now comprises millennials, making it essential for agency owners to be able to address their needs and harness their considerable talents. McLellan and Baier’s research data was aimed at providing the key to managing millennials effectively. > I’m a data nerd. >[@drewmclellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) & [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) share hard core research data about [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) at agencies. [#inbound16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inbound16?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/ZhHsx74RWv](https://t.co/ZhHsx74RWv) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796382088748482560) > Excellent & surprising statistically proven data on millenials at agencies from [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) at [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/dKhDjxlSRb](https://t.co/dKhDjxlSRb) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796385392866066432) Armed with this knowledge, agency owners should be able to assess potential employees better, recruit talent more effectively, and keep their employees motivated and happy. McLellan and Baier’s talk was enthusiastically received by the INBOUND16 audience. > Listening to [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) talk about Managing Millennials! Killing it! 🙂 [#growth](https://twitter.com/hashtag/growth?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/SYVq6gXGrp](https://t.co/SYVq6gXGrp) > > — Josh Coffy (@JoshCoffy) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/JoshCoffy/status/796374780874199041) > Great presentation as always by [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) and [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) on the millennial workforce and how to best incentivize them [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/MYQL2t7SB2](https://t.co/MYQL2t7SB2) > > — Alix Parker (@parkerbot2000) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/parkerbot2000/status/796388713630748672) One of the key points of the talk was the need to distinguish between different types of employees, irrespective of their ages. > Differentiate between: > Agency advocates v. Prosperity partners v. Millennial mindset[@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796378247701426176) > Agency advocates are passionate about work, act as owners & love their jobs. Retain them!@susanbaier [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796377589376020481) > Agency employees are hungry to spend more 1:1 time with seasoned mentors. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796380877987123200) On the other hand, according to Baier and McLellan, the “millennial mindset” refers to a disengaged state of mind that is independent of age. > ‘Millenial mindset’ is NOT age specific, generally less engaged employees span all ages. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796379139519500289) > It isn’t about the ‘millenial’, it’s about the mindset. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796379522102886400) In fact, the research says that most younger employees don’t have the “millennial mindset”. > Research shows most younger employees at agencies don’t carry the ‘[#millennial](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millennial?src=hash) mindset’. Stop labeling. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796384215759814656) > ‘Millennial mindset’ can strike at any age. 70% of [#millenials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millenials?src=hash) at your agency want to be there & learn. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796380156080308224) What matters above all to most millennials is having the chance to learn new things. > What matters most to [#millennials](https://twitter.com/hashtag/millennials?src=hash) is opportunity to learn & improve their skills in the workplace. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796376492829720576) And this is something that is not unique to this generation, but true for employees belonging to any age group. A rewarding career can mean different things to different people, but almost everyone wants the opportunity to develop their skills and grow. > Compensation is a broader conversation than $$$. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/w0pwVVSGdc](https://t.co/w0pwVVSGdc) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796381465886003200) So agency owners should simply focus on providing that and stop worrying about their employees’ ages. This will help them increase employee retention across the board. > Help your employees learn and grow! Don’t worry about Millennials. TY [@DrewMcLellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) and [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) great session [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Sonja Gray (@sonjagray) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/sonjagray/status/796385130168258560) > Investing in all employees’ continued educational development increases retention. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [@drewmclellan](https://twitter.com/DrewMcLellan) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796384813179662336) > Statistically validated data PROVES we should stop worrying about age & focus on helping all employees learn & grow. [@susanbaier](https://twitter.com/susanbaier) [#INBOUND16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND16?src=hash) > > — Heather Dopson (@heatherdopson) [November 9, 2016](https://twitter.com/heatherdopson/status/796380395851960324) So there you have it. The key to managing millennials is the same as it is for everyone else: providing them the chance to learn and grow. For more session recaps, check out the rest of our [INBOUND16 coverage](https://www.niswey.com/inbound16). 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