Smashing Perceptions of Today's Generation Z

Here is a starting 13 Point Life List of some things you can be doing to smash people perceptions and wow them early. This is a developed piece from a summarized post that I wrote and just put out to Linkedin. The end result of this is you want people to say in their head 'wow, that is one impressive student, I am going to help them any way I can.'

These are 13 things to wow people, win them over, and get them advocating for you to their network.

1.    Be An Information Sponge that can use, keep track of, and apply new info quickly.

2.    Always be Prepared and Purpose Driven aka your purpose now…

3.    Ask solid questions while including some nostalgia factor to them, what was it like when…_____; this always increases the connection factor when you care to ask?

4.    Ask for feedback or guidance that is directed at 1 thing to start; your 1 thing WIN…

5.    Have a Story To Tell About your past, your skills, and how you helped something

6.    Have your discovery story – your approach to your future (your thought process)

7.    Do what you say you are going to

8.    Know how to follow up with everything you do and with reminders why you are following up (restate the importance)

9.    Offer to help someone else who is helping you (mutually beneficial approach)

10. Have an attitude of gratitude as in grateful for what you have (your mental checklist)

11. Growth oriented in how you approach new challenges and meeting new people (always learning)

12. Exhibit and demonstrate how you learned from a mistake (open to admitting it and showing how you corrected it – shows growth, humility, and character early on)

13. Discuss entitlement to show you understand it and are working hard daily to not be it.

To Add Some Additional Color ...

Your actions and your effort will help you smash perceptions. So will having proof of those actions in the stories you tell while pairing in your demeanor. Stories of real life experiences cut through the judgement clouds. Demonstrating the effort you put in early are perceptions deflated quickly when you are looking to stand out as a student today and gain experience or get hired.

Being creative and asking for things from adults when you have a purpose and reasons for it is key. Everyone was a student at one point, they get it. Assertive and proactive at the same time as well as grateful and thankful throughout which you communicate clearly will let them know you are serious about your future and at the same time respect their input or time.

Being focused and purpose driven will get you where you need to go and with those who you need to be around.

Lastly and most importantly in closing to reiterate lucky #13, explaining your clarity on the entitlement factor, and how you started to understand why people have this perception of your generation may be the most important thing you can do besides being considerate and purpose driven. Letting some one know, that you know what’s going on out there and are working tirelessly to avert that stigma will get you everywhere. It shows you are wise beyond your years. So does practicing this list. Try it, you will be better for it when you do. Also, you can Subscribe to the Student Success Podcast, hosted by me, live now in 25 countries and growing fast on iTunes below. When you subscribe let us know at [email protected] that you did!