I, too, suffer from the Impostor Syndrome (and it helps me to understand Gen Z better)

New (academic) year, new thinking.

Firstly though, a humble pat on the back (and not a humble brag!) - we have well over 600 subscribers! That is over 630 people curious to learn more about connecting and engaging with the newest generation in the workplace.

What would you like to talk about? What topic within this intergenerational professional conundrum concerns you most?

Care to share any recent examples and challenge me to reflect on these? I love a good challenge.

Also - this newsletter has now changed its name. Really, it has always been much more about "engaging" than merely connecting. What's the difference, you might ask? Well, connecting is about joining with someone, whereas engaging is about capturing and maintaining someone's interest - and this is really what we are all about!

So, Engaging with Generation Z it is from now on.

Phew. The admin job done, onto the topic of this inaugural edition of the academic year 2024/25.

"But why are you bangin' on about "the academic year", Alisa?", you might reasonably ask.

You see, a year ago I took on the role of the head of a year of a postgraduate course at UCL. It seemed like a personal and professional challenge with a strong lining of being a useful one for the profession (and for the society, if I wanted to sound grand).

But why was it such a challenge? Because despite my 20+ years in the legal profession, I doubted that I have what it takes. It's quite ordinary, you know, for a woman - even a competent one - to doubt that she has what it takes. It's called the Impostor Syndrome.

Of course, it doesn't just affect professional women: anyone can suffer from it. But it is extremely common among professional women. Why? Well, this is a whole new topic, but just trust me, it is common to epidemic proportions (and no, you often cannot tell just by looking at the sufferer - we hide it well).

Back to our Generation Z.

At a recent talk on networking I was giving at a well-known company, a woman in her 20s came up to me after the Q&A session.

"I'm inspired by your practical tips on how to feel like I belong at networking events, but in reality I often feel excluded. Unless my mentor arranges for me to meet someone in particular, my age and my junior role are my biggest disadvantages. I feel like I constantly need to prove that I deserve to have an opinion. Simply because I'm young does not mean that I'm stupid!"

"Gosh, how I relate to that!", I breathed out. "Not to the age bit, of course, but to constantly needing to prove that I deserve to have an opinion, and to express it." The horror on the woman's face forced me to explain to her that I trained in a very old-fashioned profession, where stereotypes and biases remain rife to this day.

"But on the solution to the issue that you have expressed", I continued "There are certain things you can do, both to help you re-frame your mind, as well as to position yourself when speaking with more senior people. Firstly, understand that your youth and your perspective allow you to see any situation from an angle that may not be available to others. And this is extremely valuable to any leader who is worth its salt. Secondly, gently but confidently inject that your view may not be an expert one, yet, but is nonetheless insightful as it reflects the perspective or a new generation that leaders are seeking to engage. Fresh view from the young professionals should be like gold dust to the current leaders. Know your value".

Know your value, I said to the young woman. I say the same to myself.

Sometimes what doesn't kill us and makes us stronger also builds other people up. Interesting, that.

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For talks, masterclasses and 1:1 coaching sessions on networking and engagement with Generation Z go to www.alisagrafton.com

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