Is it fair to say now that Gen Z is purely transactional when it comes to their connection to work because they don’t buy fluffy narratives anymore?
In the 2010s, startup founders were looking for people with a sense of purpose, who could hustle and grind, and who had an owner’s mindset to help the company’s grow.
Of course, this approach only sometimes resulted in fair compensation. But it worked.
They said it wasn’t about the money; it was about the purpose of making a significant impact; it was about learning and giving your all for the startup’s vision success – and to make the employees feel the chosen ones, the selected people that were part of something big. People were cool with low salaries as long as they were allowed to feel empowered to make decisions while playing ping pong at the office and having a fridge stocked with beer and snacks.
But then, in the 2020s, Gen Z came in, and they didn’t buy the purpose-driven-great-work-experience story. They questioned everything: too much work, lousy culture, crappy managers, no recognition. They were fearless in being seen as transactional, shortsighted, or mercenary.
Gen Z saw through the trap: many concessions and uncertain returns in the future.
Is it fair to say now that Gen Z is purely transactional when it comes to their connection to work because they don’t buy fluffy narratives anymore?
They want to learn while working, and they want a work experience that can enrich them professionally and personally. They want clear performance expectations and timelines, including promotions, the right amount of workload and relevant information, and work-life balance.
And can we assume that we all want and deserve it?
Amy Webb, a renowned futurist and strategist, shared in her last report during an innovation festival a vision where we are all – Gen Z, X – are part of one generation, a Generation T. The Gen T is the transition generation that precedes a colossal change that is about to happen in the way we live and work. She says everyone alive today is part of this great transition, meaning our society will look very different after this has completed its cycle. What I love about this vision is that it redefines generation differences and puts all of us in the same box: a human race that now needs to find ways to converge and quickly solve human future threats.
In the meantime, we are all doing everyday work; our lifetimes are just melting in our hands, and the planet’s continuity, political conflicts, and the still-to-be-solved poverty and inequality continue to add fear and uncertainty, blocking the human brain to create better solutions.
In this way, work can be a way to react positively to it.
Being part of a group of people that is creating a positive impact in the world doesn’t just touch the sense of belonging human need; it can be an individual and a group reaction to all that is happening now in the world. Being surrounded by real stories about the positive impact of our work is fulfilling and – proven by science – can not only increase productivity and the potential to create great solutions – it can give us a longer and healthier life.
We all need an honest and exciting proposal that aligns with our desire to transform our work time into a valuable and meaningful way of impacting the world. As humans, we cannot wait longer to make a positive impact in the world; embedding this need in our daily work can be a great way to achieve that.
Work should enrich us professionally and personally—this is what all generations want, and it’s time to find common ground.
