“With millennials, one of the things that we've learned — one of the most important things — is flexibility,” Susan Combs told a room of business-minded brokers at this year's BenefitsPRO Broker Expo. (Photo: Charles Garnar/ALM)

The most successful businesses are the ones that are able to react and adapt to changing tides. Today, there are countless ways to boost profitability, increase brand awareness and lock in lifelong customers. While no two businesses are alike, there are general rules of thumb that can be applied across the board. Susan L. Combs, CEO of Combs & Company offered some advice and strategies to help kick any business up a notch.

One strategy is for businesses to adapt their environment to the millennial workforce. As numerous industries see a flurry of baby boomers and Generation Xers getting ready to retire in the coming years, millennials will be sought after to fill those positions. But to attract and retain millennials, businesses need to understand what they're looking for.

“With millennials, one of the things that we've learned — one of the most important things — is flexibility,” said Combs. With a cellphone and a computer, some employees can do just about everything remotely that they could do if they were in the office. Businesses looking to shift away from a traditional office setting should consider this as long as the work is getting done. In New York City, where Combs's brokerage is based, no one really works on Fridays in the summer. As a result, Combs closes the brokerage at 1 p.m. on Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with everyone also working from home on Fridays. “What that's helped me build is a very, very loyal workforce,” Combs said.