They are our future workforce, our future leaders and innovators. Our young 20-somethings have limitless potential, but they need to be engaged and encouraged. Here are my 3 R's to help coach and inspire Gen Z to build their confidence and realize their potential.
I am a Generation Z advocate. Primarily because I am a parent of two Gen Zs who are now entering the workforce. In my blog Raising Generation Z, I share 3 lessons my sons taught me about raising tomorrow's leaders and being a better coach and mentor for today's young workforce.
Here is an excerpt from that blog introducing who Gen Z is:
The oldest of the Generation Z population is now at entry workforce age and by 2030 will make up to 30% of the global workforce. They are digital natives living in the most diverse globally connected world. They have grown up in a world of rapid change and global events such as terrorism, cybercrime, global economic fluctuations, environmental disasters, political turmoil and a pandemic. This has made Gen Z very realistic and cautious about the world they live in and their future.
Generation Z wants security and stability and achievement. However, their approach is different than their predecessors. They view work as a hobby instead of being defined by it. They are DIY driven and believe in a community where everyone gains and shares from an open economy - and they are open to creating that reality for themselves.
They are truth seekers and realists who want to improve the world.
My oldest son has graduated from university in Canada and is home in Hong Kong for an extended visit before going back to focus on starting his career. In our month together, we enjoy reconnecting deeply and growing our evolving relationship from an adult child to an adult parent. With each conversation, I am learning more about the Gen Z point of view.
I see these generational characteristics in both of my sons. But I know they are much more than just these generational stereotypes. In fact, the more I get to know them as young adults, the more I understand the truth behind Gen Z characteristics. (To see the full breakdown of the different generations and more details about Gen Z, check out my full blog on Raising Generation Z.)
The journey of raising my boys has been the biggest learning opportunity in my life.
Seeing and understanding the world through their eyes at each stage of their development has taught me that we all can learn from the young. And that we need to stay young in our hearts and minds if we want to continue to succeed in the future.
Preparing my sons for independence has been the most important coaching and mentoring project of my 20+ years in the learning and development industry.
Hearing my son's worries and insecurities for his future alongside his aspirations and dreams reminds me of when I took my first steps into adulthood. When starting our independent lives, we all want to prove our ability to succeed while at the same time, feeling intimidated about leaving the safety of home.
In hindsight, I wish I had a coach or mentor to tell me the 5 Things I Wish I Knew at 22 to make starting my independent life easier. However, my parents, teachers and early career mentors' communication styles were lecturing and dictating. I didn't listen to much of their advice as a young adult.
I want to make sure I avoid the old ways of my parents, teachers and early career mentors. I want to connect to my sons and my Gen Z clients in a way that will make them feel seen and understood. Only then will they be open to any coaching and mentoring I have to offer.
I have great faith in Gen Z. They are our future leaders and innovators and have limitless potential. They just need to be engaged and encouraged.
Here are my 3 reminders (3 R's) to help you connect and inspire Gen Z to build their confidence and realize their potential.
1. Refrain From Assumptions
Just because we have lived through and survived our 20s doesn't mean that we know what it's like to be 20-something in 2023. The world today is not what it was 3 years ago, let alone 20 to 30 years ago when parents, teachers and bosses were last in their early 20s.
As coaches and mentors, we can't assume we know what Gen Z is going through because the context of the world around us is so different than when we were their age.
Throughout history, each generation makes assumptions about the younger generation that follows based on their own past experiences. Coaching and mentoring based on these assumptions can sound outdated and irrelevant when it doesn't align with what 20-somethings are going through today.
Here are some clues to determine if you are coaching and mentoring through assumptions.
Do you often give advice starting with "When I was your age..."?
Do you think that Gen Zs are naïve and need to act their age as independent adults?
Do you compare the skills and attributes of today's Gen Zs to your own accomplishments by the time you were their age?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may be letting your assumptions about today's young 20-somethings get in the way of connecting with them and understanding their reality.
To break through assumptions, try the following instead.
Be genuinely interested and ask questions to understand their experiences and POV.
Hold the need to respond or judge and listen empathically with the intent to understand and learn.
Treat each Gen Z as an individual and not according to generational stereotypes.
No two people go through the same experiences in life. None of us can fully understand what someone is going through unless we open ourselves to listening and learning.
Letting go of assumptions helps us to connect better with each other regardless of generational differences.
2. Respect What They Have to Offer
I often receive complaints and requests from executive clients who wish their young employees would take more initiative, be more responsible and perform to their expectations. When I dig deeper into these requests, I often find that my executives want the 20-something employees to work the way that they did at that age.
But is doing things the way they have always been done in the past the best way to move forward?
The book The Gen Z Effect by Thomas Koulopoulus and Dan Keldsen, brings to light how in today's hyperconnected world, embracing the mindset and innovations of Gen Z will create a better future where there are no longer generational divides.
The book takes a look at how generational differences have historically shaped our world and workplaces but predicts the changes that evolving global demographics and technologies will bring.
The authors share the positive impact that Gen Z brings to the table such as:
openness to change and progress
willingness to learn
agile adaptability
"lifehack" problem-solving abilities
The book makes a case for embracing Gen Z's mindset and skillset as the way forward in a post-generational world.
Instead of wishing that the new entry-level employees do things our way, perhaps we should respect what they have to offer to help us move forward in our hyperconnected world.
Here's a great introduction video for The Gen Z Effect.
3. Reassure Them of Their Capabilities
I remember the excitement of graduating from college. It only lasted a week before it was replaced by the fear and anxiety of stepping into adulting full-time.
I remember the weight of expectations from family, friends and myself to live up to all the aspirations and dreams I had for my life as a child and teenager. Suddenly, my mind was flooded with questions like "where do I start?" and "now what do I do?".
All the confidence gained from the approval of my professors and the strong grade point average suddenly disappeared. The daunting first steps into building a career and a life as an adult dimmed the confidence gained in years of preparation.
With a very light resume of work experience in hand, going to those first interviews was an exercise in faking courage and confidence.
I wish someone had reminded me that the best qualities that made me successful in my teens and young adulthood are the same qualities that would help me be successful in my future. Just because my work resume was light, it did not mean that my talents and capabilities were.
We all need affirmation and encouragement in our lives. Gen Z is stepping into independence during a 3-year pandemic from which we are all still recovering from.
Reassure them that they are capable of great things and let them use their talents and capabilities to build their confidence and resumes.
Life Stages Vs. Generational Divides
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with and developing entry-level young employees. I believe this has kept me young and agile as an educator, mentor and coach as it forced me to stay up to date on technologies, skills and information.
I know that the longevity of my career has been extended by how younger generations have influenced me. At the same time, I know that younger generations need help from mentors, coaches and leaders to give them life hacks and advice as they begin their adulting journey.
Each generation has made complaints and assumptions about the previous generation that have not come to pass. I think we just need to remember that we all have to go through the same life stages and not judge the younger generation for their lack of life experience.
So the next time you are privileged enough to offer coaching and mentoring to a 20-something youth remember my 3 Rs.
Refrain from assumptions.
Respect what they have to offer.
Reassure them of their capabilities.
I am excited about the future of Gen Z and how they will lead us into a world without generational divides.
"This future is ours to embrace. Whether we, the established generations, choose to accept that is in our court."
- Rosario Dawson
Additional Insightful Reading Recommendations:
The Gen Z Effect: The Six Forces Shaping the Future of Business - Book by Tom Koulopoulos, Dan KeldsenHow Does Gen Z See Its Place in the Working World - Online Article - mckinsey.com
The Next Phase of Parenthood - Online Article - ayclimitless.com
I would love to hear your comments!
What Gen Z stereotypes do you think are false?
What advice would you like to give Gen Z to help them find their voice and confidence?
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