How to Lead a Gen Z Team

For the first time, there are five generations in the workforce at once. Each generation has its own set of values and methods of communication. You can lead people well when you truly understand how they think. 

Data shows that by 2025, Gen Z workers will make up 27% of the workforce. If you’re leading a team comprised of Gen Z’ers, here are a few tips to keep them happy and productive. 

Innovative Projects
A recent study found that 72% of Gen Z high school students aspire to start a business, and the same findings show 61% would rather be an entrepreneur than an employee when they graduate college. 

For this reason, you should provide opportunities for your Gen Z employees to express their creativity and their entrepreneurial spirit through innovative projects. Perhaps you empower them to manage a new system, implement technological updates, or encourage them to create thought leadership. Your Gen Z employees will be more satisfied, fulfilled, and productive when you create room for them to be innovative and entrepreneurial. 

Opportunities for Growth
Gen Z is not only innovative but also growth-oriented. They’re constantly looking to achieve more and learn more. Interestingly enough, this generation has the lowest high school dropout rate compared to previous generations. Gen Z is marked by a culture of continuous growth and learning. 

You can support this desire for growth in your Gen Z employees through career pathing, providing skill training, or sending them to industry conferences. Due to Gen Z’s digital upbringing, they respond best to high-tech methods for training programs such as instructional videos, digital gaming, etc.

Hybrid or Remote Work
Millennials are typically known for the “we’re all in this together” mentality, but Gen Z is comprised of individualized workers. Research shows that 69% of Gen Z prefer their own workspace. 

You can lead this generation well by allowing these team members the space and privacy to work on their own. As a result, you will see higher productivity and overall satisfaction.

Competitive Structure
Research shows that Gen Z is motivated by experiential rewards and badges, similar to what they experience playing video games. You’re likely to find Gen Z to be much more competitive, both in and out of the workplace. 

You can increase productivity within your Gen Z employees by offering incentives and creating a competitive work structure in their teams. Just because you cultivate a team environment at your office doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to create friendly competition and incentives. Consider hosting frequent team-building activities, sharing measurable benchmarks to strive for, or creating a weekly incentive to aim for. 

If you’re looking for more tips to manage a Gen Z team well, check out our Developing a Coaching Leadership Style Course. Research shows that Gen Z responds best to being coached in the workplace, not managed.

Source: https://ddiworld.medium.com/what-generation-z-wants-from-leaders-ddeb2565af97