Millennials and Gen Z face unique challenges in the workplace. These aren’t just about work habits; they are rooted in technology, culture, and a desire for immediate impact. I've seen it firsthand—feeling unfulfilled, wanting quick success, and dealing with social pressures are common struggles.
The Key Problems
- Impatience for success: Many expect rapid results—whether it’s promotions or making an impact—right from the start. But it is more like going to the gym: You go the first day, work out for 30 minutes, look in the mirror, and see nothing. You go the second day, same thing—you see nothing. Should i quit? Is it working?
- Lack of fulfillment: Many young professionals want to make an impact. They work for three months and feel frustrated, thinking, "I’m not making an impact, I’m going to quit." They see impact as a summit but what they don't see is the moutain. It’s an accumulation of small efforts that lead to big results.
- Social pressures: Constant exposure to the "highlight reel" of others' success fuels feelings of inadequacy. Social media makes it easy to compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Inability to make deep meaningful relationships: We live in a digital-first culture where deep, trusting relationships can be hard to form.
- Dopamine dependency: Social media has rewired us to expect instant gratification—whether it’s likes, feedback, or success—making the long game feel almost unattainable.
What Millennials and Gen Z should do
- Embrace the journey, not just the destination: Success, like love, is an accumulation of small moments. You don’t remember the exact day you fall in love—it’s the little things that build up over time until you wake up one day and realize, "I love this person." The same goes for your career. Focus on small wins, and the impact will come with time.
- Practice patience: Just like going to the gym, the results won’t show right away. Keep going, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Trust the process and stick with it.
- Set boundaries with social media: Limit distractions and comparisons. Focus on your own path, not someone else’s highlight reel. Seek purpose in every role: Even in the smallest tasks, find the purpose. It’s these consistent efforts that will ultimately create impact.
What leaders should do
- Coach, don’t just manage: Help younger employees see that success doesn’t come overnight. Guide them, like a fitness coach, through the process of building their careers step by step, and encourage them to stick with it, even when results aren’t immediately visible.
- Create purpose, not just tasks: Connect their daily work to the larger mission of the company. Help them understand that real impact is like climbing a mountain—you don’t reach the summit on day one, but every step gets you closer.
- Foster deeper connections: Encourage face-to-face communication and meaningful relationships. People thrive when they feel part of a community.
- Support mental health and work-life balance: Promote environments that allow employees to recharge and disconnect. This reduces burnout and improves overall performance.
- Lead with empathy: Understand that the pressures of social media and instant success are real. Show compassion and create spaces where younger generations can openly discuss their challenges and frustrations.
It is in the small boring things that we do over and over that make a change..even when we don't realize it, like saying good morning to someone, Oh he remembers my name..
By recognizing these challenges and adapting both as leaders and employees of newer generations, while maintaining core principles of growth, we can create a workplace where everyone thrives—where Millennials, Gen Z, and leadership work together to create meaningful impact over time.