Gen Z: Optimism Primed

Over this past weekend, we offered up a summary of the first 4 generations @ work around which we have done some exploring these past couple of weeks... The Elders, Boomers, Gen Y and Gen X. It is part of our exploration of engaging the age and the Generational Mosaic. Let us begin again with that Mosaic.

Through it all, it has been noted that...

• We will be exploring what I call 5 strata of temperament and their strengths of character... and we will explore 5 generations soon-to-be at school, work, business and community. The intent is to understand that we are all different and we are all the same... and that there are archetypes that can help us find our bridges of understanding.

... again, for full transparency, I have said in the past...

• I am a late BOOMER, born in 1960. My parents were ELDERS. I teach business to Gen X and Gen Y students and work alongside BOOMERS and Gen X as colleagues. I was trained and educated by ELDERS. I have watched and observed the on-the-ground manifestation of the age cultures, almost like a river flowing past me within the classroom these past 20 years. In addition, having taught Organizational Behavior and Business Ethics over these last 20 years, I have had plenty of opportunity to become acquainted with traditional research and develop real conversations in the crucible of the classroom to explore these assumptions. My work includes exploring what I call the generational mosaic. These days, we have no less than 4 generations in the workplace.

With that in mind, we are missing a piece of the puzzle... and one that is on the horizon of the working world. Yes, Gen Z is coming.

Here are some thoughts, insights and learnings on...

The ESSENTIALS on GENERATION Z

… 0-16 in age… born 2001 onwards (depending on who you ask)

First, and excerpted from the NY Times article by Alexander Levit...

I’ve now had the opportunity to meet lots of Gen Zers, and here’s what I’ve noticed. To start, they tend to be independent. While a 2015 Census Bureau report found that nearly a third of millennials are still living with their parents, Gen Zers are growing up in a healthier economy and appear eager to be cut loose. They don’t wait for their parents to teach them things or tell them how to make decisions. As demonstrated by the teenagers attending the recent Generation Z Conference at American University in Washington, Gen Z is already out in the world, curious and driven, investigating how to obtain relevant professional experience before college. Despite their obvious technology proficiency, Gen Zers seem to prefer in-person to online interaction and are being schooled in emotional intelligence from a young age. Thanks to social media, they are accustomed to engaging with friends all over the world, so they are well prepared for a global business environment.

So, they tend to be ...

• independent
• purposefully problem solving
• resourceful
• eager to be cut loose
• discerning and decisive
• worldly, investigative, curious and learning driven
• seeking professional experience and experiential learning
• high on technology proficiency
• preferring in-person to online interaction
• high on emotional intelligence with supportive family circles

And, yes indeed again, based on my work with The Virtues Project? and my experience as an educator and entrepreneur, and human being, here are some of the core driving virtues of GEN Z as an age culture: independence, decisiveness, and confidence.

More on Gen Z

Gen Z is getting attention in some corners...  have a read and reflect. 

• From Forbes

Excerpted...

• Connecting their jobs to social impact will remain a priority for generation Z as it has been for millennials, and employee volunteer and giving programs will continue to be creative tools for strengthening teams, skills and leadership. There’s every indication that technology-centric Gen Z will be more attracted to volunteer and giving if the experience is social, mobile and interactive, such as the experience that Causecast offers through its platform. Companies should walk the talk of employee-led service by investing in tools that integrate giving back into the regular work life of employees.

Their upbringing and life thus far is producing some interesting perspectives and behaviors. Consider...

Wikipedia is Already Chiming In

Excerpted from same, we have the following and a lot to munch on.

• According to Forbes (2015), the generation after Millennials, Generation Z, made up 25%[38][39] of the U.S. population, making them a larger cohort than the Baby Boomers or Millennials.[38] Frank N. Magid Associates estimates that in the United States, 55% of Generation Z are non-Hispanic Caucasians, 24% are Hispanic, 14% are African-American, 4% are Asian, and 4% are multiracial or other.[40]
• Generation Z are predominantly the children of Generation X,[41][42][43] but they also have parents who are Millennials.[44] According to the marketing firm Frank N. Magid they are "the least likely to believe that there is such a thing as the American Dream" because "Generation X, the most influential parents of Plurals (Generation Z), demonstrates the least credence in the concept of the American Dream among adult generations."[40] According to Public Relations Society of America, the Great Recession has taught Generation Z to be independent, and has led to an entrepreneurial desire, after seeing their parents and older siblings struggle in the workforce.[45]
• A 2013 survey by Ameritrade found that 47% of Generation Z in the United States (considered here to be those between the ages of 14 and 23) were concerned about student debt, while 36% were worried about being able to afford a college education at all.[46] This generation is faced with a growing income gap and a shrinking middle-class, which all have led to increasing stress levels in families.[47]
• Both the September 11 terrorist attacks and the Great Recession have greatly influenced the attitudes of this generation in the United States. Since even the oldest members of Generation Z were young children or not yet born when the 9/11 attacks occurred, there is no generational memory of a time the United States was not at war with the loosely defined forces of global terrorism.[48][49] Turner suggests it is likely that both events have resulted in a feeling of unsettlement and insecurity among the people of Generation Z with the environment in which they were being raised. The economic recession of 2008 is particularly important to historical events that have shaped Generation Z, due to the ways in which their childhoods may have been affected by the recession's shadow; that is, the financial stresses felt by their parents.[50] Although the Millennials experienced these events during their coming of age, Generation Z lived through them as part of their childhood, affecting their realism and world-view.[51]
• A 2014 study Generation Z Goes to College found that Generation Z students self-identify as being loyal, compassionate, thoughtful, open-minded, responsible, and determined.[52] How they see their Generation Z peers is quite different from their own self-identity. They view their peers as competitive, spontaneous, adventuresome, and curious; all characteristics that they do not see readily in themselves.[52] In addition, some authors consider that some of their competencies, such as reading competence, are being transformed due to their familiarity with digital devices, platforms and texts.[53]
• A 2016 U.S. study found that church attendance during young adulthood was 41% among Generation Z, compared to 18 percent for Millennials at the same ages, 21 percent of Generation X, and 26 percent of baby boomers.[54]
• Generation Z is generally more risk-averse in certain activities than earlier generations. In 2013, 66% of teenagers (older members of Generation Z) had tried alcohol, down from 82% in 1991. Also in 2013, 8% of Gen. Z teenagers never or rarely wear a seat belt when riding in a car with someone else, as opposed to 26% in 1991.[51]
• Research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation conducted in 2016 found Generation Z youth had lower teen pregnancy rates, less substance abuse, and higher on-time high school graduation rates compared with Millennials. The researchers compared teens from 2008 and 2014 and found a 40% drop in teen pregnancy, a 38% drop in drug and alcohol abuse, and a 28% drop in the percentage of teens who did not graduate on time from high school.[55][56]
• According to The Daily Telegraph, Generation Z is keen to look after their money and make the world a better place. In a quote by journalist Harry Wallop, he states, "Unlike the older Gen Y, they are smarter, safer, more mature and want to change the world. Their pin-up is Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education campaigner, who survived being shot by the Taliban, and who became the world's youngest ever Nobel Prize recipient."[57]

So, Let's Go Back

So, they do tend to be independent, purposeful, problem solving, resourceful, discerning, decisive, worldly, investigative, curious and learning driven. They do seem to be seeking professional experience and experiential learning with a high and increasing degree of technological proficiency but preferring in-person to online interaction... strong on emotional intelligence with generally supportive family circles. Their social conscience is high. 

Just consider this video called I am Malala...

... in honor of Malala Yousafzai and get a sense. In many ways, they seem to be possibility thinkers and doers, with a conscience. I am affectionately calling them Idealism 2.0, the Reboot. Like all generations, they are not monolithic and they have their own challenges; but they are coming. Best, get ready. They are many. They are Optimism Primed.

So, as I noted way back in May 2015

... while we can identify the cultures of age, there are 7.45 billion personalities on the planet and not everyone sees the world according to their "profile". Clearly... and we will next be looking at 5 temperaments that cross the generations. Stay tuned. 

But, this is true of all generations; they have variations. There are indeed gradients and outright anomalies. No two people are exactly alike. This is the bad news for leadership. There are no monolithic groups. In classrooms and workplaces, we have to recognize that everyone is unique. In fact, in all classrooms and workplaces and communities:

?   Everyone is different

?   Everyone is the same

?   Everyone has something in common with another person

This ensures that there are no pat answers… no magic bullets; there are 5 Strategies one can employ in engaging the generational mosaic and other forms of diversity. 

First, we need to apply what I call the Marco Polo Virtue…. curiosity. As Dale Carnegie would have said… become genuinely interested in other people. Nothing will truly work until we adopt this virtue and make it our own. Second, apply the 5 Strategies of the Virtues Project?.

?   Speak the Language

?   Recognize Teachable Moments

?   Set Clear Boundaries

?   Honor the Individual

?   Be Present

… as they relate to the virtues and character of those we engage. Think and speak in terms of the virtues strongest within the person, the group, the age. Speak their language. Appeal to their own nobler motives. In so doing, approach learning from the standpoint of identifying what virtues reach and connect. Find that bridge, and learn as you go. With that in mind, set very clear boundaries on what your and their lines in the sand are… what virtues are deal makers and breakers, to build common understanding and culture. As you do, be cognizant of the importance of seeing people for who they are and being ourselves at our best in doing so, and be present. In doing this, feel free to consider this list of 100 Virtues.

This is the starting point of understanding the generational mosaic. It is true that we have a growing body of work and knowledge that establishes commonalities amidst the different age groups. It is also true that the groups are not monolithic. It is also true that there are commonalities amongst and between the groups. So, in fact, it comes down to developing an approach that sees people for who they are and builds bridges identifying common language. The 5 Strategies can be likened to the foundation for that bridge building.

Consider this. 

Give it a try. 

Check out www.virtuesproject.com or our own site at www.epicengage.com….

See where it takes you. 

Engage the age and explore the strategic advantage that comes from doing so. In the next few days, we will offer up some closing thoughts and move on to the 5 temperaments.  We invite to stay along for the ride.

Peace, passion and prosperity.

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy?

Barry is ultimately a vocalist, strength coach and educator. His work is about exploring, identifying, practicing and mastering our strengths and building upon them through practical and powerful unity and resourcefulness. That is why Barry is The Unity Guy?. EPIC Engage? is an extension of The Unity Guy?. The Epic work is all about building strong, united and inspired cultures lead by character… at school, work, business and community; where everyone matters and contributes everyday.

PS

Some new reads on the Generations @ Work and the importance of true education... with a post on Gen Z coming this week. Stay tuned.

• The Elders
• The Boomers
• Gen X
• Gen Y
• The Nobility of Education

PPS

Some other reads, of note...

• Character Matters: Leader Thoughts
• Leader ToC
• Character First
• For Leaders and Educators
• Developing Leadership Character

PPPS (Other Resources)

• Our work is all about character. We work hard and joyfully to help build character driven, united and resourceful organizations and communities around the globe. As part of that work, we offer you …
• and our buffet of FREE services and resources here.