5 Skills to Help You Lead the Next Generation of Employees T
he KCHBA’s Workforce Development Committee’s efforts to promote careers in the residential construction industry are starting to pay off with five high school graduates recently joining KCHBA member organizations.
This group of young professionals are eager to learn and ready to work. They are part of the next generation of workers, Gen Z, born between 1997-2010. This generation is characterized as “digitally native,” meaning they have never known life without technology at their fingertips. Gen Z is the most diverse generation to date in the United States as nearly half of this group are non-Caucasian, a statistic increasing by about 5 percent from the Millennial generation.
A manager is well organized. He or she has a clear project scope and a defined budget that he or she follows. A manager seeks to improve processes on paper and looks for ways to problem solve within the business. While management is more about control, leadership is more about letting go. Leadership is about motivating and inspiring employees to keep them moving in the right direction, i.e., toward the long-term vision of the company. As leaders motivate and inspire people, those employees achieve a sense of belonging, recognition, self-esteem and a feeling of control over one’s life — some of the very same characteristics Gen Z is looking for in their employers.
As Gen Z enters the workforce, they crave stability and expect detailed instructions. They value diversity and skill development. Unlike previous generations, most Gen Z professionals are not looking for a total separation of work and personal life. They are seeking leadership that cares for them as a whole person.
Here are five skills to help you motivate and inspire Gen Z.
Gen Z is also more vocal about the importance of managing mental health. According to the Harvard Business Review, Gen Z reports higher levels of anxiety and depression than previous generations. There are various thoughts on why, but immediate access to the latest headlines that often focus on everything from mass school shootings to climate change to financial instability are thought to be taking a toll on their mental wellbeing. The flip side of immediate access to information is Gen Z is expected to be one of the most well-educated groups ever. When it comes to leading this group, it is important to note there is the distinct difference between leadership and management. Most organizations “today are over-managed and under-led,” according to John Kotter, a business and management thought leader, entrepreneur and Harvard professor. But one is not more important than the other; a harmonious relationship between leadership and management is the goal.
#1: Empathy. There’s no need to get mushy with “I love you, man” stuff. But it’s a skill to understand the emotional makeup of other people and then treat them according to their reactions. You can’t please everyone, but you can help others see different viewpoints and work better as a team. Learning how to practice empathy in your business not only leads to a more enjoyable work environment, but it is also one of the most effective tools you can use to retain talent, according to Harvard Business Review.
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According to Kotter, good leaders “regularly involve people in deciding how to achieve the organization’s vision.” This collaborative approach gives colleagues a real sense of controlling their own future. Talking one-on-one with employees can make a big impact. Asking what their goals are and figuring out how the company can help them on that journey will go a long way in making your Gen Z employees feel valued and supported.
