You couldn't miss the trend: Millennials are looking for meaning at work. Some articles highlight the suffering at work of the younger generation when faced with companies that fail to motivate them. What if collective intelligence was the key to this problem? Indeed, because it values the collective in the service of a common project, collective intelligence gives meaning back. It responds to a need for both social cohesion and individual development. In short, between collective intelligence and Millennials, it would seem that we are dealing with an interesting complementarity to exploit.
Collective intelligence and Millennials: let's start with some definitions
Generation Y, Z, Millennials... It is easy to get lost in the number of names that exist to designate the new generations. However, several articles, such as the one by the Pew Research Center, agree that Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. They have grown up with new technologies, so much so that they could not do without them today.
Let us also define what is meant by collective intelligence. A JDN article on the subject defines it as follows:
Collective intelligence is the intellectual capacity of a community of individuals that comes from the interactions between its members, allowing complex tasks to be carried out thanks to the synergies achieved. It implies, for the community, the sharing of information, the respect of common rules, numerous social relations, and a benefit to collaborate for each member.
Collective intelligence at the service of Millennials
A study conducted by Beeshake in 2019 shows that Millennials are ready for collective intelligence. Indeed, while their elders were positioned in a learning posture, the younger generations are more in an active proposal posture. Moreover, 75% of the under-30s consider being listened to as their main source of motivation at work. The good news is that collective intelligence allows each employee to be listened to. And this is true regardless of their age or hierarchical level. Be careful, however, because while Millennials demand to be listened to, they must also be able to listen to their peers. Only then will collective intelligence be effective and beneficial for all! The win-win relationship between collective intelligence and Millennials requires a clever mix of audacity and humility.
Millennials...at the service of collective intelligence!
Collective intelligence responds to Millennials' need to listen, allowing them to be more motivated at work. The reverse is also true! Indeed, Millennials, with their more agile and collaborative mindset, help collective intelligence to develop . Millennials need to be listened to? Good for them! To get into action, collective intelligence needs people who have things to say. This is particularly the case in large groups where inertia is characteristic: the energy of Millennials is a real driver.
Where to start?
You are convinced of the virtuous circle between collective intelligence and Millennials: Millennials help stimulate collective intelligence, which helps Millennials feel more motivated. And yet, you don't know how to activate this virtuous circle. Imagine practices and formats that stimulate collective intelligence, and invite Millennials to participate! These practices can serve different purposes:
- Improve feedback in your organisation
- Making decisions in a collaborative model
- Develop thecollaborative innovation and encourage employees to come up with ideas for the company
- Disseminate skills and circulate intelligence between teams
