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I’ve Taught Gen Z for Almost a Decade. I’m Split on the So-Called Gen Z ‘Split’
- The narrative of Gen Z splitting into two distinct groups, one entrepreneurial and ambitious, the other cautious and disengaged, is being debated by a business and leadership lecturer who has worked closely with Gen Z students for almost a decade.
- The lecturer finds Gen Z to be more nuanced and thoughtful, with internal divisions but not a clear generational break.
- Through exercises like the Leadership Trait Auction, where students bid on leadership traits, it is observed that traits like kindness, strong communication, and knowledge/expertise are consistently valued by students.
- Recent years have shown a shift in students' approach towards these traits, with a growing intellectual curiosity about why these traits are important in leadership.
- This intellectual curiosity may stem from the differing cultural contexts in which older and younger Gen Z members grew up, affecting their perspectives on traditional values and systems.
- While differences exist within Gen Z, the lecturer sees a continuum rather than a clear split, attributing the observed skepticism and willingness to question to the impact of societal events like the pandemic and social movements.
- Notably, kindness remains a consistently valued trait among Gen Z students, serving as a form of credibility and confidence, especially in uncertain times.
- The lecturer acknowledges the diversity in coping styles and engagement levels among Gen Z but emphasizes that the fundamental values of empathy, communication, and knowledge as core leadership traits remain intact.
- The lecturer sees the ability of Gen Z to question values while still upholding core traits as a sign of growth rather than confusion within the generation.
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