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The children come to stay here. And they don’t want to follow our rules (our rules more than millennials). As more and more Gen Z workers enter society, much is being said about this new population of worker bees, except that they are different from the bees we are used to. Despite our stereotypes and assumptions, many of us old man That may be true, but Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with. why? They have the same right to do so as we do.
My company employs several Gen Z worker bees, and I’d be lying if I said the adjustment was easy. back to my time — Yes, my day was very different — I was born into a work environment where big guys in big suits told us what to do. I’m more afraid of taking a sick day.. That was until the world took a collective sick day during the pandemic. Sensitive, fearful, and inconveniently inexperienced, Gen Z has had to jump into a workforce for which no one is prepared.
Rules and expectations seem to change regularly, mostly for the better, leading many workers to look at what hives can be like. Ta. Things we craved, like flexibility and security, were not only expected, they were demanded. And her kids, her Generation Z, had no idea what work life was actually like until 2020.
Related: 7 things you need to know before managing a Gen Z team
Generation Z workers were forced into the workforce without the experience of previous generations. Yes, they are good at social media and technology, but their skills lag behind. interpersonal communicationyou can use your phone with confidence (old voice phone on the other side) and can hold your attention longer than TikTok Reels.
Some of these issues that we older generations observe within Gen Z are extremely frustrating. We want them to behave exactly as we did, but it’s impossible to expect certain behavior to appear out of nowhere. And in research, mental health issues Gen Z (but really, I think we’re all influenced by the increased use of social media and instant gratification) are more afraid of speaking up about themselves and have lower self-esteem and energy. This puts them in an even more disadvantageous situation.
This is reality. Gen Z is the future. The future now. Bear Icebox’s goal is to empower Gen Z worker bees to rise above and become true leaders in their own way. Below are some of the ways we empower our teams.
Expression in a safe place
Gen Z isn’t afraid to express themselves. We see this reflected through their clothing and social media platforms. But that fearlessness ends when it comes time to receive feedback and express your own opinion. unfamiliar situation. We do our best to encourage our teams to speak up, especially in uncomfortable situations like these. why? Those who are comfortable with being uncomfortable will rule.
In my experience, I have always been vocal. In fact, in my last few jobs before joining Bear Icebox, I actively participated in revising and updating old policies. Speaking up was a risk, but I learned that having a risk-taking mindset is what sets me apart. My job now is to encourage this new generation of leaders to do the same.
Related: I’m a Millennial Managing a Gen Z Workforce. The most difficult part is dealing with their “work emotions.”
A fascinating collaboration
From my observations, Gen Z has a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to feel like they are making a difference and impacting the world. When it comes to the workplace, Gen Z workers aren’t just chasing money. previous generation — They want theirs the voice I heard. So give them the space to truly collaborate.
At Bear Icebox, we encourage open dialogue and collaboration, not only on client projects, but also on our internal policies and practices. Old-fashioned management methods looked like dictatorships (well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but I like a bit of dramatic flair), but new generations are now as much in control of decision-making as they are in management. You would expect to be part of it. their boss. Since the pandemic, workplace rules have continued to change, opening the door to this type of collaboration between managers and employees. And I don’t see things stopping anytime soon.
accept reality
Gen Z is very honest. Very, very honest. Their lives have been cherry-picked since labor and birth, but there is a sweet innocence in their unfiltered vulnerability. In my experience working with Gen Z, they have said things to me that I never thought I would say to my boss, or even my mother for that matter.But this openness and authenticity It’s very refreshing. Our agency has a mission of complete transparency: always be honest, clear, and inclusive (which is why we started Bear Icebox in the first place). The truth is, when everyone feels like they can be authentic at work, it builds trust and confidence in future leaders.
Related: Gen Z brings a whole new dynamic to the workforce
expect open-mindedness
People change every day. That’s what life is. And if you can’t keep an open mind about it, things can get difficult. For me, open-mindedness is not just about accepting another person’s ideas or way of life, but rather remaining open to that person as things change. Gen Z will likely experience a lot of change – as it should. They are young, so whether we have the patience or not, they are still learning. In fact, we are all still learning. But the learning part is easier when done together. Be open-minded and expect change and discomfort. This will make it less stiff and hopefully less frustrating.
As leaders preparing the world’s new leaders, we must demonstrate our strength by becoming the foundation of the younger generation. If we use all of our experience and wisdom from actions that have worked and those that have not worked, we actually have the power to improve everything. Complaining won’t do anything for us. Magic happens when we take action.