Why You Should Give Gen Z Employees A Break

Do you remember the 2am nights. The Mel's Diner grilled cheese after clubbing until you kicked off your heels and lost your earring somewhere?

Do you remember believing all humanity was pure at heart? When you believed friends had your back when push came to shove? Do you remember when you saw the world through screaming joy at your favorite concert, the first time you ever tasted truffle fries, and the smell of bonfire smoke in your hair 3 days later?

Do you remember oversleeping, missing the bus, remembering your stuck on the 101 and you forgot to charge your cell? smh. Well.... I do.

You too believed there was no harm in believing in fairytales and world traveling. Then you went out, saw the world, met the devil, realized people suck, the world is against you, your dreams are farther away than you thought, and you would never let your daughter date half the guys you thought were AMAZING at 21. 

When your Gen Z assistant didn't know MTV ever played music videos, has no idea what an iPod is, and wasn't even alive during 9/11 then we want them to appreciate Freedom, music, and hard work. Honey, they have only ever known a life of convenience so what can they learn from us... nothing for a while. What do I mean by that? They are not going to know life as an uphill climb until much later. When they try to protect their kids from the pain that the reality of life brings. But why would we want them to see the painful side of life so early? Let them see, explore, fall, get scrapped up, and appreciate what they have. Let them learn the sound of their own voice and not their friends and not yours either. We shouldn't be trying to make another generation of the same.

So what can we learn from Gen Z? They love convenience so let them show you an easier more convenient way to do life. Appreciate their "I don't care" personality. They are not incentivized by more power, money, or materialized life. Ask yourself when was the last time you didn't care. 

So how can millennials who care about appearance and perfection live with Gen Z coming up with an 'I don't care' personality? 

Learn your lanes.

Gen Z- They can be influenced. Just know that they are more influenced in the why you need something (details) and less about the aesthetics (appearance.) They embrace cool in their casual essence. If you have to try your trying too hard.

Millenials- you can use this because your new consumer is going to listen to them in sales positions since they know the essence of how to break down a product or service and endorse it as their own idea. Youtube style in real life. What they aren't going to do..... something before you ask, so just know that.

Gen Z- What can you learn about your millennial peers? how to present yourself in a professional way to build relationships. We had to prove ourselves so we know how to hold onto something we worked hard on. Ya were bad at letting go of something we put energy into and got nothing from when Gen Z can do this beautifully. We, Millenials, are good at holding out in trying times and those relationships are why our customers are not hit it and quit it. They are more superficial than Gen X who were all about consumer loyalty. They never switched from a brand they loved and Millianials figured out there were more options out there to love, while Gen Z figured out an easier way to get what they loved.

So before you lose your mind, remember people hated us too. Us and our immoral music, low rise jeans, tattoos, and glitter. .... There was a lot of glitter, that junk made a mess everywhere. 

Be open to learn from each other and remember we didn't listen to anyone at that age either.

-Izzy Gentry

CLVplanners.com