That Millennial Magic // Busting myths about millennials in the workforce

In the therapy world, we obtain credit for continuing education yearly. It’s how we responsibly and professionally keep up with changing research and techniques in our field. This past spring I was scanning through various web-based options and stumbled across some recommended courses about supervision. After reading the objectives I settled in on a course promising education on feedback, criticism, and expectations regarding supervision.

The course was full of great information and the objectives were appropriate for what I expected...but then...a specific segment on supervising millennials stopped me in my tracks.

The speaker’s demeanor shifted, her voice wavered and she began listing facts about my generation like a newly developed species of fish.

“Instant gratification, recognition, in no hurry and falling behind” were characteristics used. I was honestly offended that she felt she didn’t know how to supervise or educate “us,” the millennial.

DotCom Therapy creates a solid community of professionals with extremely high, professional expectations and I am humbled to be a part of the group. But, I am also a millennial. Lazy and lacking a work ethic are not traits I see in my fellow millennial therapists, so where is the disconnect between professionals in the field?

In a profession where advocacy and acceptance is crucial, I want to take a minute to educate and advocate for the millennial therapists. Here is a glimpse into what millennial therapists are bringing to the table:

• Millennials hold 20% of all leadership roles in the workforce according to a 2017 survey conducted by Deloitte.

• We are preparing Generation Z to tackle anything that comes their way. We are also supervising our own and older generations in the roles of assistants and implementers.

• We are the generation using the foundation built before us and pushing even harder for improved diversity and inclusion in the field, in our communities, and beyond

• We are collaborative and well-educated on how to work with others across the generational board and outside our own community.

• We are young, educated and hungry. An intimidating combination but one that allows us to be productive in various fields and gives us the passion and drive to continue learning and improving.

I want to make sure each person entering the workforce, especially in the changing landscape of the therapy industry, is represented appropriately. As therapy professionals we need to be able to highlight the skills of each generation of workers to enhance our industry overall.

That is why I am going to share my Millennials and Misconceptions Series launching here on the blog. I hope to take a positive turn on the conception that working with Millennials is “venturing into the unknown” and show why that unknown is actually a really positive aspect.

As Millennials, we are the future of research. We will be the generation to reach the unreached. We will find new ways of implementing treatment, supervising professionals and educating future therapists to ensure a better future for all those behind us and better present for those beside us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Morgan Chapman, MS CCC-SLP // Morgan believes that a little bit of boldness goes a long way. Wife to GI Joel (blind date over tacos turned into marriage) and mother to daughter, Waverlee (with another on the way), Morgan is a full time [millennial] speech teletherapist who works out of a vintage camper office behind her home. 

Blog photos provided by Morgan Chapman // https://www.missmorganaliana.com/

Interested in joining an inclusive, supportive team of teletherapists like Morgan?