Gen Z Chronicles - Part II

Do you feel awkward when you see someone grieving over a recent breakup on TikTok?

Well, people might call you a "Boomer"!

Gone are those days, when the only people who knew about your breakup were your Bartender, Barber, and Barista!

As it should be evident, people have their own ways of grieving.

The current generation would prefer a collective emotion to drive their thoughts.

May it be a breakup ??, a game ??, or having a new pet ??!

It doesn't have to come from a closed knit.

It can simply be random global citizens who can simply connect with their emotions! ????♀?????♂????????????? ??

As a ??????????????? late 30-something millennial leading a predominately Gen Z team, I often ask myself – what exactly motivates these young, quirky professionals??

Let me pull back the curtain (based on my understanding) on the vision, aspirations, and values that drive the Snapchat generation.

This is a 3-part series.

?? Part 1: Myth Vs Reality (Read Here)

?? Part 2: IYKYK

?? Part 3: How to engage? (As an Employee/Customer)

Sharing the top 10 thoughts that drive Gen Z!

Disclaimer: There are variations, sub categories, and other pointers that could be added. Well, not attempting to decode an entire generation in a single article!

As always, you are free to add to my perspectives!?

#?? 1 - Building an Equitable and Just World ??

Having come of age with movements like March for Our Lives and Black Lives Matter, Gen Z views driving ethical change as a collective responsibility rather than lofty idealism.?

They believe technology and entrepreneurial action, not just policy debates, can catalyze impact at scale from climate justice to data privacy.?

Expect Gen Zers to make even micro-product-choices that subconsciously further accessibility, sustainability and transparency - whether front-end website design or AI model training datasets.

#?? 2 - Climate Change and Sustainability ??

Have you noticed how some new and small brands are gaining a ton of traction because they stand for sustainability?

This has also led the bigger brands to follow the footsteps in order to attain attention from Gen Z (although some of them are questionable)!

Where Millennials amplified conversations on climate change, Gen Z is pioneering solutions with an action bias.?

For them, it is not about how long you have been in the market. It is about how long you want the world around you to be better.

Be it tracking carbon footprints or preventing food waste via apps, they recognize individual and collective effort is key to course correction.?

They see right through it, when your carbon credits are "just another certificate" that you bought for your marketing campaigns!

Across hiring policies to office LEED certification, they scrutinize if organizations walk the talk on ESG commitments - with social audits being as important as profit margins.?

For Zers, there are no free passes for sustainable lip service - impact must be demonstrable.

#?? 3 - Stability and Financial Security???

Having come of age in the shadow of economic volatility from the 2008 financial crisis to the COVID pandemic, they highly prioritize career stability and future-proofing skills.

Having a passion project is something you can’t deny of them!?

Expect them to pick companies promising extensive learning opportunities and growth runways over risky startups aiming for quick exit ramps (unless that is a motive as well).?

Building expertise is the insurance policy against disruption.?

Maintaining passion income streams on the side provides an added buffer.?

However, they are good risk takers too.

I am not surprised to see the growth of young investors, traders, and crypto/blockchain experts.

Budgeting, saving and investing early on is ingrained as the path to financial freedom.

#?? 4 - Passion-Driven Flexible Careers ??

Gen Z envision career progress through self-paced transitions across diverse roles, companies and geographies guided by their passions.?

Would it be surprise you to see a blockchain expert turn into a full-time musician? Please don't be!

They are redefining workplace norms by interchanging virtual freelancing gigs allowing location independence with full-time employment stints when seeking community.?

Fluidity is the new normal - we must accommodate the alumni boomerangs between passion projects and core careers rather than questioning the career graph deviations.?

The trust pays dividends in amplified excellence and innovation, while closing attrition leaks!

#?? 5 - Remote Work and Location Independence ??

Did you know that almost 60% of the people consider themselves as Global Citizens.

Borders don't change the way they embrace another country, culture, or social responsibility.

Same applies for careers as well.

Having grown up comfortable with virtual hangouts and remote learning, Zers are ultimately seeking location independence rather than fully remote jobs.?

The autonomy to manage workload across change of scenery taps into their entrepreneurial spirit and combats monotony.?

Companies clinging onto outdated presenteeism policies risk losing top Gen Z talent to emerging gigs offering GEO flexibility.?

Offer goal-oriented deliverables over attendance mandates to keep your best Zers engaged.

#?? 6 - Entrepreneurship and Freelancing ??

“Do not start a business! It is too risky! Better get a job in a well-known company!”

This could have been the mantra told to most of us from a very early stage!

Where millennials sparked the passion economy wave alongside full-time jobs, Zers take it further by interchanging virtual freelancing with organizational employment more fluidly.

?In fact, the anti-hustle narrative will face tough resistance.

They are willing to put in the hard yards if it unlocks income streams doing what they love while retaining flexibility.?

Ready to recruit? Forget employees. Be ready to embrace the next batch of intrapreneurs!

Offer mentoring support to budding founders on your teams aiming for sustainable work-life integration.?

Their initiatives could unlock innovative revenue channels!

#?? 7 - Diversity and Inclusion ??

Now this is something you can’t ignore.

Starting from Job Descriptions to Business Contracts, you hear this phrase everywhere!

But how many of the organizations are ‘really’ following this amazing concept?

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion expectancies go beyond recruitment brochures & token BLM posts for this generation.?

They look for bespoke accommodations in policy & physical infrastructure that support the full spectrum of backgrounds.?

Meet them halfway by creating mechanisms for continuous improvement through open channels for two-way feedback.

#?? 8 - Agency and Decision-Making Authority ??

Big picture doesn’t just belong to the top management anymore.

It belongs to everyone, if we need them to be part of the journey.

Zers like to know why change is happening before jumping onto initiatives.?

They respond best when provided context to connect their work with larger purpose early on.?

Given their lifelong immersion in decentralization discourse from web3 to cooperatives, authoritative directives face uphill adoption battles with Gen Z preferring a voice at the table.?

Guide them while also letting them guide policies in turn.

#?? 9 - Responsibility and Trust-Based Independence ??

There is no more micromanagement, but only involvement!

Micromanagement stifles Gen Z conviction in their entrepreneurial abilities.?

Smart leaders offer strategic guidance but give latitude for autonomy in execution according to individual strengths.?

Empower them to take measurable risks, make mistakes, and course correct.?

The excellence demonstrated when Zers feel trusted to fly may surprise jaded managers who are used to over-engineering processes.

#?? 10 - Emotional Intelligence and Empathetic Guidance ??

The stereotype of Gen Z being over-reliant on virtual communication misses their emotional nuance.?

Having built businesses from teens, many demonstrate maturity beyond years in EQ.?

They respond best to leaders expressing authentic vulnerability, accountability about organizational challenges while inviting two-way dialogue.?

Meet them in the human middle!

Grant them responsibility under an empathetic umbrella, and the Gen Z will anchor your leadership in the future.

Embracing what motivates Gen Z unlocks symbiotic success as they seamlessly blend work, passions and purpose.?

Millennials gained insights into their landscape over time just as Boomers listened then guided eventually.?

Shedding assumptions is step #1 ?

Progress comes from acknowledging generational inclinations, then nurturing them with wisdom.

THANK YOU!

I really hope this article on Gen Z's vision, aspirations, and values has been useful for you. Please let me know in the comment section below what you thought about the article and please share this to anybody who could benefit from, or add to, this article.

If you've come this far, please feel free to have a look at Part I of this article series in the link below.??

Gen Z Chronicles - Part I (Myths Vs Reality)

PS: As always, your thoughts and feedback is highly appreciated, as I am trying to improve the next part for you - How to Engage (Employee/Customer).

Cheers!

Vinod Hari