History repeats itself. So do generational trends.
If you could guess which generation Gen Z is most like, what would you say?
The answer: Our great-grandparents. The Silent Generation, as they are known, was born between 1928-1945 amid tumultuous economic times and political instability.
Surprised? I was when I began to analyze the similarities between these generations, especially considering that the only characteristic most articles tend to highlight about Gen Z is our “tech-savvy.” Removing the surface-level gloss of technology, Gen Z shares a childhood that is surprisingly like our predecessors.
One of the key characteristics of The Silent Generation was their risk aversion. Think of the childhood they faced… Their young years began during the Great Depression, with parents still recovering from the first World War. Their teenage/early adult years were plagued with yet another war, where losing loved ones became the norm.
Bring back the tech and Gen Z looks shockingly similar.
Why does this matter in the workplace? Let’s talk about empathy first. If you lead a young person from Gen Z, try this exercise to put yourself in their shoes.
Think back to your middle school lunchroom. Imagine sitting at the table with your PB&J (or insert favorite lunch) engaging in lively banter with your classmates. Every few minutes you glance furtively towards the lunchroom door almost expecting someone to barge in with a lethal weapon… you already lost friends in a shooting just a few days ago in a nearby school. Imagine just weeks later, going into COVID-19 lockdown. You’re 12, you’re just getting comfortable in your own shoes, and suddenly you can’t see your friends anymore except through a screen – you lose the personal touch and at times, it’s difficult to remember what being with other kids was like. Months pass, your parents have lost their jobs and the constant arguing puts them on the brink of divorce. On top of this, you can’t focus or learn online easily – your parents can’t help; they’re too busy trying to make ends meet.
What 3 words would you use to describe your 10-year-old self if you experienced this?
I’d probably say anxious, confused, frightened.
This is the new normal. The result? Gen Z is risk-averse. So how can we help Gen Z overcome the fear of taking chances and risks?
One of the ways my parents helped me overcome fear was preparing us for how to respond to danger if it ever came – i.e. role-playing how to de-escalate conflict when a weapon is pointed at us and training in martial arts.
My mentors helped me overcome fear by suggesting insightful books on how to make decisions differently and overcome analysis paralysis, then discussing the learnings with me and holding me accountable for implementing the ideas (one of my favorites of these isDecisive by Chip and Dan Heath).
Whether you have Gen Z children or you lead a Gen Z’r, helping our generation overcome fear will be instrumental to our performance in the workplace and overall well-being. It’s up to parents and leaders to draw out the fears that may be holding us back and coach us through the mental barriers that prevent us from becoming our best selves.
If you’ve got Gen Z children or lead a Gen Z’r, how do you help them overcome fear? Let me know in the comments.
