Leading Millennials and Gen Z
Neha Singh
SaaS Sales and Customer Success Strategist | Building Bridge to Leadership | Podcast Host
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Imagine this:
None of the above are hypothetical scenarios. These are real instances. Susan Inouye, seasoned executive coach and a recognised expert in working with millennials and Gen Z, shared the above with me when I asked her what frustrated her clients about Millennials and Gen Z.
So why have millennials and Gen Z caused such a ruckus? Why do managers struggle to get this generation to bring their best selves to work and be engaged?
According to Susan, they have three requirements:
Aren't these desires that we all cherish irrespective of the generation we belong to?
How are millennials and Get Z different?
The difference is that millennials and Gen Z are demanding it more than their predecessors. They refuse to compromise on these requirements for the sake of job security.
Why is that so?
What can a leader do to address these requirements without getting overwhelmed by "my way or the high way" attitude of this generation?
How do you develop their talents that benefit their careers and the business?
Bridge to Leadership's podcast and latest blog post based on Susan's bestseller, "Leadership's perfect storm" , discuss all of the above and more.
I would however, like to talk about the fundamental requirement needed to lead this generation, in this newsletter.
Our old expectations from employees that they will :
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will no longer be met by this generation.
Millenialls and Gen Z will respond to you only when you see them and develop them as a complete being. That means a leader needs to develop the muscle to deal with not just their employees' gifts that benefit the business, but also
All this while developing them and holding them accountable to high standards.
How do you do that? By practicing "Sawubona' Leadership.
Sawubona Leadership is not based on academic theory. It didn’t emerge to create a consulting concept positioned as ground breaking advice. It emerged to turn around the life of at risk youth. A cohort that won’t recognise authority and look for innovative ways to break rules. "Youth Mentoring Connection" (YMC) is a non-profit that works with inner city youth in Los Angeles. YMC has worked with millennials for over 15 years and its methods have transformed the lives of at risk youth in over 30 countries. Their approach is called “Sawubona Leadership.”
Unlike other leadership approaches that tell you how to get employees to be their best self, Sawubona Leadership starts by recognising that people already are their best self. Sawubona leaders see each person as intrinsically gifted in the way that they are; they develop the whole person and create the opportunities and culture for each to live up their highest potential.”
How do you put this in action?
You need to connect with this generation. Connection doesn’t mean “communication” or “connectivity”. Connection means how your employees feel in your presence. To connect, a leader needs to look for their employees gifts in every situation, even when they are so called “acting up.” Without seeing them as gifted, any attempt to develop them will fall flat.
Leading millennials and Gen Z has more to do with the leader leading herself first. It takes more than just self awareness and insights. A leader has to practice grounding herself and connecting with herself before she can connect with her employees.
Listen to my discussion with Susan on our podcast to dive deep into:
Additional Resources
Founder & CEO, the Inouye LoRe Group ...Help Executives & Business Owners create engaged employee relationships resulting in cultures of well-being, inclusion, purpose that retain the best talent & achieve their mission.
3 个月Thanks Neha Singh! As leaders, it's important to consider...A person's behavior is tied to their age & brain health, no matter what generation; the societal factors that are weighing heavy in their lives. In the U.S., the cost of living is a huge stress factor - being able to survive with large student debt, wages from their jobs that still can pay rent without lots of roommates & juggling to make ends meet. These factors affect the productivity of our young people at home & work & we must consider all of this when leading our people. Sawubona!
Founding Member of President's Circle Leaders Excellence at Harvard Square |Keynote Speaker| CMO Council | Certified Executive Coach | Man of Excellence by IAF | Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Inspiration Award
3 个月This is very insightful, interesting and inspiring Neha
Neha Singh, your insights into the unique leadership approach required for Millennials and Gen Z are compelling. Particularly for Gen ZAlpha (born 2006-2012), fostering a culture that respects and nurtures their intrinsic gifts is critical as they begin to enter the workforce. Understanding and embracing this approach is essential for future-proofing leadership strategies. For more insights into connecting effectively with Gen ZAlpha, consider following our GEN ZALPHA page.
Author ? Keynote Speaker ? 3x Board Corporate Board Member ? Award-Winning CEO—The Board Curators ? Helping Professional Women Break Through Barriers
3 个月Excellent article! Helpful to know how they think and process the work culture and reach them where they are. When we see them where they are and meet them there, we can help them thrive and win. When they win, our businesses will win. Bravo!