Since their emergence into the workforce, Gen Zs have played a strong role as a high-flying group of individuals. They refuse to conform to unfavorable norms and are setting better standards for themselves.

However, the difference in mindset between Gen Z cohorts and the older generations can cause conflict in an organization.

Understanding Gen Z thought patterns and how to manage them in the workplace is critical to organizational success.

Who Are Generation Z?

Young Boy on Laptop

Generation Z, popularly known as Gen Z, is the group of people born between 1997 and 2012. Raised in the outbreak of the internet, the digital network has a great influence on them.

The Gen Z group spends more time on their smart devices, surfing the internet. And that makes most of them tech-addicted. This group is more racially and ethnically diverse than the generations before them. Members of Gen Z are mostly children of Millennials, also referred to as Gen X.

The 10 Best Tips for Managing Gen Z Employees in the Workplace

Young Girls at Work

According to statistics, Gen Z already accounts for 24% of the global workforce, and that number is expected to rise to 27% by 2025. With a knack for innovation, this group expects more from their jobs than people of the older generations.

Gen Zs thrive more in an innovative and liberal work environment where they can be themselves and question the status quo. An organization must understand how to recruit, manage and retain these people. Otherwise, they won't hesitate to leave for a better place.

Here are some helpful tips to guide you.

1. Use Communication Tools

Born at a time when the internet and smartphones became trendy, Gen Zs grew up using social media, text, and emails as a normal means of communication. As a result of this, the majority of them prefer texting to face-to-face discussion. The internet also gave them many channels for learning, such as YouTube and Facebook.

Don't drag them to a physical meeting unless it's necessary. Use apps like Zoom to hold virtual meetings. Deploy more channels for virtual communication to keep up with the energy.

2. Cultivate a Positive Company Culture

Like their predecessors, most of the Gen Z employees are after businesses with positive company culture. This group likes to feel respected, valued, and also enjoy the job, which leads to an increase in their level of productivity.

Make time to engage with them, ask them for feedback, and try to adjust the company culture. Encourage them to do more and reward their efforts when they go the extra mile. Doing this will motivate them to work harder.

3. Embrace the Use of New Technology

This generation has little or no knowledge of life before the internet, social media, and smart devices. They spend most of their time with these devices. They feel more at home when the organizations they work with make use of these tools for work.

Ensure that you meet the technological needs of this generation to improve work efficiency and productivity. Instead of storing paper documents on shelves, create e-copies of the documents.

There are tons of workflow tools you can use for this purpose. For example, you can use Adobe Scan to convert your old paper documents into PDF files and store them on Google Drive.

4. Promote Diversity and Inclusion

The majority of Gen Z employees are open-minded. They prefer to work in an environment with diverse cultural, racial, sexual, and educational backgrounds and orientations.

The tech-savvy group also likes to feel included in things going on in the organization, as it enhances their learning.

5. Prioritize Mental Health

Gen Zs have a tendency to feel stressed easily. With so much information at their disposal, they understand the implications of stress and avoid situations that put them in that state.

The things stressing them out revolve around job security, work, and money. If the issues aren't addressed promptly, they take a toll on their mental health and affect their productivity.

Pay close attention to their moods at work. Encourage them to speak up about how they feel. Cultivating psychological tips for reducing stress in the workplace comes in handy. This show of affection and concern will make them more eager to champion organizational goals.

6. Embrace the Work-Life Balance

Young People Talking Outside

Gen Z employees are more inclined to stay on jobs that give them a healthy work-life balance. While they need to execute their tasks, give them room for breaks when needed.

Work is no longer restricted to the four walls of an office. Allow them to work remotely if the job permits it. Their productivity is more important than their presence in the office. Not embracing the work-life balance leads to reduced productivity and burnout.

7. Encourage Development and Growth

The desire for development and growth isn't exclusive to Gen Zs. Everybody wants to work in a company that teaches them new skills and makes them better. Just like other generations, Gen Z employees see this as a form of insurance policy for long-term jobs.

Create opportunities for growth, exposure, and learning. Doing this shows that you have their interest at heart and makes them more loyal to you as an organization.

8. Allow Them to Work Independently

Generation Z employees perform well when given a job they can start and finish by themselves. Even when it's obvious that they need guidance, don't be in their faces. Trusting in their ability to work independently boosts their self-confidence at work.

You can use online platforms like Udemy and Coursera to help them acquire new skills instead of teaching them yourself. It broadens their perspectives and gives them a sense of responsibility to excel.

9. Encourage Freedom of Expression

Young employees always want to make an impact anywhere they find themselves. Letting them voice their opinion and listening to them helps to motivate them.

Most organizations only allow the older generations to talk during meetings. If you want to get the best out of your Gen Z employees, give them a voice.

The world is advancing with technology, and they are the ones who know more about it. Tap into their technological knowledge to make them productive and also feel heard.

10. Embrace Career Advancement Opportunities

Unlike their generational predecessors, Gen Z’s like stable jobs. This is an advantage if you want to run a long-term business. You’ll also reap the benefits because these young people are entering the workforce at high speed. So, you should make sure that your company has career advancement opportunities.

Gen Zs prefer to work with organizations that have a “promote from within” policy. Create a learning and development program that will be used to access them. By giving them this sense of responsibility, they will always put in their best to get promoted.

Managing Gen Zs for Modern Workplace Success

Gen Z continues to prove that age is just a number. Despite being so young, they are breaking boundaries, especially when it comes to technology. And since today's workplace thrives on technology, it's their turf.

If you want your company to succeed in the tech-driven business terrain, you have to learn how to manage and retain the tech-savvy lot. Once they feel at ease working in your establishment, there's no limit to what they can do.