Generational differences: 4 things to consider when teaching or working with Millennials

It is common in today’s imaging industry to hear or read the complaints of more experienced physicians and technologists who dislike the way Millennials—most commonly referred to as individuals born between 1980 and 2000—carry themselves on the job. “They don’t focus,” some will say. “They aren’t professional enough.”

According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, it is perfectly normal for such differences to exist between generations; what’s truly important is working to improve these professional relationships moving forward.

“Many feel that the generational differences encountered with Millennial trainees are novel; the reality is that prior generations have always bemoaned generational differences,” wrote Ana P. Lourenco, MD, and John J. Cronan, MD, both of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “This is not a new problem; some of the same things may even have been said about us during our own training!”

Lourenco and Cronan shared several things more experienced professionals should consider, both when instructing Millennials and working side by side with them. These are some of those suggestions:

1. Demonstrate the relevance of what you teach, or risk losing attention

“Millennials are considered ‘digital natives,’ meaning that they have grown up with a wide array of technology, are used to having easy access to a multitude of information, and are unaccustomed to having to wait for most of that information,” the authors wrote. “This has resulted in relatively short attention spans in the setting of a traditional lecture.”

If you can’t quickly show that your lecture is relevant, you may lose their focus altogether. Provide “hooks” early and often, Lourenco and Cronan explained, and engage students as much as possible through participation.

In addition, educators may need to change their priorities in certain ways. Allowing students to watch lectures online instead of requiring attendance, for example, is one way to adapt while still presenting all of the information you want to share.

2. Millennials need feedback—and lots of it

Millennials need more feedback than any previous generation, Lourenco and Cronan said. Annual reviews just don’t cut it anymore.

“Some Millennials struggle with conflict resolution and many are looking for very specific directions and frequent feedback in the workplace,” the authors wrote. “The importance of providing feedback during medical training is widely accepted, but the reality is that many of us find it difficult to give effective feedback and do it rarely, if ever. Making the extra effort to give feedback in real time, even when it pushes us beyond our comfort zones, is even more important to our current trainees.”

Lourenco and Cronan noted that managers and educators throughout the healthcare industry are quick to discuss problems, but rewards for doing a good job can be forgotten completely. Taking time to comment when a student or colleague has done something positive can go a long way.

3. Now hiring? Know what Millennials are looking for

According to U.S. Department of Labor data quoted by Lourenco and Cronan, half of all workers are expected to be Millennials by the year 2020. Coupled with additional data about the high number of expected baby boomer retirements in the near future, this shows that radiology departments and practices throughout the country must make sure they understand Millennials well enough to recruit them.

For example, surveys have shown that these younger professionals care a great deal bout doing “work that matters.” The profession of radiology clearly does matter, but the more that can be conveyed to potential employees, the better those individuals will likely respond to the job opportunity. 

“It may be worth taking a minute to reflect on the people behind the thousands of images we interpret, how our interpretations may affect their lives, and how many lives we may touch in the course of a year,” the authors wrote.

4. Millennial employees value mentoring

Lourenco and Cronan said that the first year of independent practice is full of “considerable change” and “tremendous growth” for any radiologist, and Millennials can benefit from being mentored during this period more than any previous generation. Millennials want to be mentored, just like they want to receive around-the-clock feedback about how they are performing.

“Actively mentoring a new hire through this transition can be very valuable and may improve both recruitment and retention,” the authors wrote.

For additional Radiology Business coverage on this topic, click here.