With Gen Z entering the workforce, it’s important for employers to think about the best ways to bridge communication gaps and encourage collaboration between generations.
Jim Link
Chief Human Resources Officer, Society for Human Resources Management
What are some of the key differences in expectations between Gen Z and older generations in the workplace?
There are several things that are really different about this generation. As Gen-Z is about to become one of the larger significant portions of the overall total workforce, there are some unique and exciting things they bring into the workplace. The first is the idea that they want to do things that make a difference in the world. They like that their values can be brought, demonstrated, displayed and appreciated in the workplace. They’re looking for a place where they have flexibility and agility in the way work gets done, including the schedule and time it gets done. They want to connect with their coworkers. And finally, the thing I love about this generation is that because they are digital natives, they’re incredibly tech savvy.
What are some ways that older generations can really benefit from Gen Z in the workplace?
First of all, when you think about the digital native skills, Gen-Z just walks into the door knowing prolific digital skills is certainly something that’s going to be significantly important and valuable for generations more senior than they in the workplace. They have such a different view on not just how technology, but also how communication itself should happen in the workplace. In general, if something is a normal course of communication, Gen-Z prefers digital communication. But what we have unearthed in both observational data is that when these are matters of importance, Gen-Z still prefers face-to-face communication. So this gives both parents and employers and others who are interested in maximizing the capabilities of Generation Z a foot in the door to engage on matters of importance.
A second thing I think we have to learn is what I call employing for the cause. Many employers have now determined that the best way to engage Gen-Z is through connecting them with causes in which they believe in. As the most diverse generation out there, Gen-Z is highly attuned to things related to diversity and inclusion, and certainly older generations can benefit by being open to the perspectives they bring to the workplace to create a more inclusive and diverse environment.
What are the biggest pieces of advice you give to Zoomers entering the workplace for the first time?
The first thing I always tell young employees is that you as an individual, from the moment you begin your career, the thing you should be thinking about most is determining and being very comfortable with what you’re known for. It can be a hard skill, it can be a soft skill, it can be a state of mind, it can be an attitude, or it can be a behavior. There are so many things that you can be known for, but if you want to be known for something, then make sure you role model that behavior, that you are as deep in the knowledge of whatever it is you wish to be known for as you can possibly be. Once those two things are in place, then people are naturally going to be attracted to that thing you’re known for.
The second thing is to learn the best way to share your expertise openly, because in many cases you can actually reverse mentor people in more senior generations and roles. We should proclaim this idea of reverse mentoring in organizations as something those organizations should be seizing and taking advantage of from the younger generation.
Finally, I believe this generation can bring back the idea of reintroducing kindness and civility back into the workplace. Now’s the time for the younger generations to bridge communication gaps with people in more senior generations in their workplaces. You can’t forget about the soft skills, things like professional communication capability, things like influencing, persuading, negotiating, those are types of skills that most people naturally learned in the workplace.
What can older generations do to encourage Gen Z to feel comfortable communicating about causes and social justice?
I believe it is essential that leadership teams establish four foundational cultures to create an environment that encourages inter-generational communication. Those four cultures are cultures of innovation, cultures of collaboration, cultures of learning, and last but not least, cultures of inclusion. Think of those four things as being like a four-legged stool: If any leg of that stool is shorter or longer than the other, then the employee who’s sitting on the stool will feel off balance. If you’re an employee sitting atop that four-legged cultural stool and everything is relatively balanced, you’re going to feel like you’re in a culture of care. And that’s what I believe is going to make a workplace a better place for all employees, regardless of their generation.
