According to Neil Howe, historian, demographer and author–Millennials are defined by seven core traits: special, sheltered, confident, team-oriented, conventional, pressured and achieving. I was reading an article last night online from The Seattle Times and Mr. Howe’s common characteristics got me thinking as to how I fit into the “seven” and if these were indeed common among the others who are a part of the “Millennial generation.”

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself special by any means at all, but overall, I would say that there are significant unique attributes about Millennials as they contribute to society. As the first “connected” generation, Millennials have a new opportunity different from Boomers or Gen X-ers to influence business, politics, leadership and a whole host of fields in ways never seen before.

I would most definitely agree that for the most part, Millennials have been sheltered. I was grateful to grow up in a safe and loving home with two incredible parents and they had a vested interest in protecting my sister and I. However, we were constantly challenged to think bigger and live in the world through traveling during family vacations, experiencing a new culture on a school trip or serving abroad through a missions trip experience. Nonetheless, I was raised in neighborhoods that were above average, virtually free from any crime and constantly safe in a protective environment. I give thanks for two parents who not only loved and raised me, but for professors, mentors, teachers and pastors who encouraged opportunities for learning and growth that have ultimately broadened my worldview today.

The words of Julie Andrews ring loudly in my mind right now, “I have confidence in confidence alone…” as I think about this core trait of the Millennial generation. As a Millennial with the strength of Self-Assurance in my Top Five, I definitely would fit with this. Overall, I find Millennials to exude confidence in many things–whether it be asking questions in the workplace that Boomers or X-ers would never imagine doing when they were younger or maintaining confidence in an unsteady job market as they look for employment–Millennials tend to be confident as compared to our generational counterparts. For myself, I’ve grown to balance my confidence but use this strength in my daily life as a part of who I am as an individual.

As I think about my recent education and life experiences, I definitely find twentysomethings as a team-oriented mix of individuals. Through opportunities to learn/work/develop in teams, both professionally and personally, I have found tremendous growth in my own life, craving for more interaction with those around me. It’s here where I think the greatest contribution can be made; learning from others’ unique strengths as you work together to achieve a goal. I think it’s important to note that as a “connected” generation, Millennials have grown up knowing nothing other than interacting with others in social networks, school groups and neighborhoods.

I would probably have to disagree most with Howe’s belief that Millennials are conventional. Through my own life experience, I find myself often times identifying with other Millennials through “bucking the status quo” (ex: the record number of young voters in the 2008 election) or tweaking the way something is done in the workplace to make it a bit more relevant or current. In no ways, would I say I’m conventional. Another strength in my Top Five is Maximizer. As a Millennial, I personally am looking for new ways for better effectiveness & efficiency as well as opportunities to contribute my own perspectives in a unique way that help move a mission or organization forward.

I’ve found that these next two traits that Howe ascribes to the Millennial generation have much to do with one another. As a child, I was always asked by my parents “did you do your best?” I think this question remains in my life today, because I know that I was never pressured to unreasonable standards of accountability or expectations, however, excellence and personal growth was always the focus. Similarly, I believe this has much to do with Howe’s achieving trait that he connects with Millennials. In no way do I want you to think that I immediately associate pressure with parents or school (as there are countless other pressures we’ve faced and continue to face–from society, culture, media, social networks, etc), however, I do think there are some interesting correlations between these last two traits. I think that our generation has been challenged to perform and succeed as children & adolescents and now as adults we’ve channeled this into opportunities for personal and professional achievement. I believe that Millennials are full of great potential to do great things, but am wary to say that only this generation is capable of such achievement. Nonetheless, we pride ourselves as Millennials on being the “first to do ______” or the ones that have achieved great progress in whatever it may be. We want to make our mark and we want to do it well. However, the challenge remains: if Millennials are indeed achieving at their core, then what will they do for the betterment of nonprofits, their campuses, churches, organizations and the world as a whole when the next generation comes to age?

How do YOU relate to these seven traits of the Millennial generation?