The Hidden Power of Gen Z – Podcast Recap

By: Samantha Kilgore, Executive Director 

There are five generations in the modern workplace for the first time ever. And as (what I consider) a relatively young millennial boss with four employees under the age of 26, I am always looking for insight. Dr. Tim Elmore has authored more than 30 books on leadership, and he regularly speaks to renowned institutions like Chick-Fil-A and the National Football League. When I saw the title and his name on The Craig Groeschel leadership podcast, I had to tune in. My top takeaways from the 50-minute discussion: management styles must be fluid, agency and independence do not equal isolation, and leaders should handle fresh ideas with excitement and care. 

Management styles must be fluid. In his recently released book A New Kind of Diversity, Elmore writes that more than 75 percent of the workforce will be made of millennials and Gen Z by 2025. And, as those millennials who were coached by baby boomers that now supervise the younger generation, that’s quite a management style gap. As a young employee, I was taught to separate my work life from my personal life, and that the two just did not and should not collide often. On occasion, one might affect the other, but that was rare. In fact, the flexibility for those instances to occur would be seen in a more family-friendly environment when you could find it. However, according to Elmore, society as a whole, especially Gen Z, is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. And when the majority of Gen Z employees experience anxiety, managers must be prepared to offer empathy, cultivate grit, and exercise understanding. In short, “how we were taught” doesn’t apply to how we should teach others today. 

Agency and independence do not equal isolation. Gen Z employees come into their positions with a high sense of agency. They are independent, capable, and have always been able to problem-solve via Google. When hired, they are likely to want autonomy and flexibility. 

Elmore suggests when training to micromanage them for a week or two, then manage by objective after. Gen Z wants the freedom to accomplish results in their way. As they progress, give them more autonomy as they demonstrate more responsibility.

Handle fresh ideas with excitement and care. Recalling insight from author Chip Connelly, Elmore said that a successful workplace needs both young geniuses and modern elders. Gen Z team members will bring a fresh set of eyes, and new ideas and they have an instinct for trends. Modern elders can engage these young geniuses and their ideas through listening and having the courage to implement some of them, but also provide context and clarity when an idea should be tabled. 

To find out more about this podcast, click here.  

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Samantha Kilgore is ACN’s executive director and the Chief Marketing Officer at Association Services Group (ASG). ASG is a professional association management company providing support services to more than 45 organizations nationwide.