Understanding GenZ in 2024

Here’s what we’re not getting about GenZ.?

I hear all the time complaints about how lazy, distracted, entitled and socially inept this generation is, and how difficult it is to hire them and work with them.

Here is what I’ve learned and why it is better to understand them instead of criticising every generation that follows ours:

1. Lazy!

Yes, maybe they’re not willing to work 80 hrs a week for a big company that doesn’t care about them and can fire them with a finger snap. This is not laziness, but a realisation that the rat race is one of the worst existences a human can have.?

Let us ask ourselves: what’s in it for them?

2. Entitled!

This often comes from generations that prospered and built wealth when the middle class existed. Many in GenZ will never own a property and nowadays there’s a real struggle to even buy healthy groceries or pay for energy bills. Meanwhile, they have to listen to the older generations criticising them for buying coffee at Starbucks.

Statistically, millennials and GenZ won’t be as wealthy as their predecessors, even though they’re more educated and they have better access to technology and tools. Demanding a decent pay and refusing to slave away during their youth is not only understandable but fair.

Let us build an environment where people and their ideas are rewarded, and hierarchies are more dynamic and built on merit rather than politics.?

3. Socially inept

I had a great time during my university years, socialising and connecting with people. GenZ was denied that and spent 2 years in brutal isolation with a mask covering their face. They didn't choose “social distancing”, so it is not surprising that GenZ may struggle with social skills and interaction.

Try providing communication and sales coaching, offer meaningful face-to-face activities with colleagues and clients and leave them sufficient time and space to develop their own relationships outside of work.

4. Difficult to hire

If we start from a position of hostility trying to bend GenZ to the old corporate structures, then we’re missing out on what this generation can add to the world.

Embracing GenZ with empathy while sharing our experience without patronising, is a better way to go about it.?

This generation seeks realisation just like we do, but it’s not willing to sacrifice values, mental health and life outside of work. Bless them.

And for all the criticism, every generation exists with its positives and negatives. Believe me I could come up with my fair share of criticism, but so can my predecessors about my generation.

However, let us not forget that they didn’t create social media, promoting unhealthy stereotypes and messing up with our dopamine and the need for instant gratification. They didn’t build the polarizing media machine that pits us against each other.?

Partly, they’re observers of a confusing world where values are vacillating and hopefully, we’ll be able to empower them to change that, maybe using some of our experience and lessons learned too.

If we are to call ourselves leaders, let us stop beating on people and help them reach their highest potential instead, both in terms of productivity and happiness.?

We are on the same team: team humans.