Gen Y's Number One Most Basic Need In The Workplace

"When asked what millennials need in the workplace, I struggle to answer concisely. Because it’s many things. It’s competency; it’s mentorship; it’s flexibility; it’s training; it’s clearly-outlined objectives; it’s independence.

I didn’t realize that these desires had an overarching theme until I studied attachment theory, which suggests that our relationship styles are formed in childhood with enduring, pervasive consequences.

When “attachment figures”—like parents and bosses—are attentive in the right ways, individuals feel comfortable interacting with and mastering their environment. Securely attached children are willing to take risks, grow and engage other people and projects with confidence. For both adults and children, exploration is thefoundation of learning, accomplishment and fulfillment.

Our ability to take risks within a nurturing environment is, indeed, the underpinning of self-development and success. Individuals with secure attachments have more stable romantic relationships, better work relationships, superior wellbeing and higher job satisfaction."