Busting the generation gap

Generation X. Millennials. Generation Y. Coronials. These are some tags for the various generations that have dominated the demographic eras. Youth is always the centre of attention, because they comprise a major portion of the population. They define how families will interact. They influence major buying trends. They push national and social causes. They tilt political preferences in elections. Research tries to find insight into their minds since parents feel at a loss in trying to understand them. Organizations struggle to deal with their unpredictability. Every generation creates a gap between the earlier and latest generation and every generation tends to feel that the upcoming generation is the most complex.

Are you stunned how your two year old can fix your technical issues on the computer in a jiffy? Are you shocked at how casually your newly joined junior executive in the office walks in his casual attire that looks like a night suit? Are you flabbergasted at how after taking an expensive degree in finance, the student leaves it all to become a video gamer? Welcome to the Generation Z who have been born in an environment that is unprecedented. Most of us are from the generation of baby boomers who saw one of the most peaceful era post world wars. The 70s and 80s of the last century were full of new found consumerism and liberalism. Pakistan was a rising nation in the region and enjoyed prominence in South Asia despite some ins and outs of the military rules. Let us look at some more recent generations at the end of the 20^th and earlier part of the 21^st century:

Millennials – Those born at the dawn of 21st century were aptly named millennials. They were born in a turmoil driven world. Most millennials were between the ages of 5 and 20 when the 9/11 terrorist attack shook the world. Millennials grew up in the shadow of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which sharpened broader views of the parties and contributed to the intense political polarization that shapes the current political environment. They were enamoured to see Obama, a black man in the White House, but were also beset with recession and an increasingly insecure world. The hunt for workplaces that could give them job security as well as job diversity made them hop around and be labelled as disloyal by their seniors. They were termed as bright but fickle, creative but inconsistent.

GenZers – These are people born in the 21^st century who are now entering their teens and tweens. They are known as zoomers. Born on tech, they are a smart generation that loves the world of Artificial Intelligence that challenges the conventional norms. They will defy all patterns. Education may seem irrelevant. Jobs may seem a burden. Relationships may seem cumbersome. They love to prove everybody wrong. Opinionated and headstrong career choices are entirely independent of any advice. In Pakistan, we have seen the rise of the young Gen Zee where they have gone into start-ups and built enviable company profiles. However, despite their tech savviness and entrepreneurial genius, sustainability is a huge question mark. You will find them leading a very self-centred life where anything traditional almost seems alien to them.

Coronials – This is a generation that is growing up during the Pandemic and afterwards. They may be of all ages ranging from 5 to 20 years. What they have seen and felt is nothing that their parents and grandparents ever experienced. During corona, they have been caged in rooms and cut off from schools/colleges. They have been told not to visit, shake hands and hug. They have seen the whole world come to a standstill. They have seen loved ones die. In fact, they have actually lived the horror movies millennials used to enjoy. For workers, work from home had become a nightmare where balancing home while working was very monotonous and challenging. The physical and mental traumas they went is harrowing. Depression is at an all-time high. Interpersonal issues due to job at home or no job at all increased the rate of divorces and domestic violence. That is why just treating the coronials as one more new generation is incorrect.

Dealing with this generation is going to be a huge challenge. What are some strategies that parents and bosses adopt to deal with a generation like never before?

1. Do not tell, ask – Most parents as well as managers are used to order, advice and explain the pros and cons of everything. This is a generation that is smart and independent. They know more than many other generations, thanks to the touch button technology. Parents become enraged about the screen time of their kids. They are upset about the lack of time they spend with their family. Instead of being angry, try to be patient and ask them thingsrather than telling them what to do. Let them suggest their own schedules and design their own careers. Parents’ role has to change from a master and a counsellor to a confidante and a listener. That is tough, but once you gain their confidence, things will be easy. Use the words “I trust you”, “what do you think or suggest” etc.

2. Provide meaningful work –The zoomers will wander till they find something worthwhile to go for in their life. Managers must have leadership conversations with them. They must help them not just at work but for a cause beyond the job. If they are music lovers, let them develop a music team in the company. If they are into environmental causes, make them head a CSR initiative. The more you care for their extra job passions, the more they will put in the extra passion in the job.

3. Inspire values –This is a generation that isin a hurry. While engaging them, it is important for both families and parents to ensure the nurturing of basic human values in them. The quick buck approach may attract the youth to form start-ups, but basic principles must be followed to ensure longevity of their ventures. Respect, integrity and hard work are constants. The current set of leaders in the world are not great role models of these values, thus local role models need to be identified in work life, sports and civil society to create a strong belief in them.

Perception is deception sometimes. People often complain about the casual and indifferent attitude of the Generation Z/C (coronials). Behind this exterior lies a generation smarter than any other. They possess a sensitive heart and a troubled soul. That is where families and companies need to focus. Look beyond their obvious indifference. Stir and spark the fire that lies in this generation of young adventurers who want to venture into unexplored, untraveled and untapped horizons.

The writer is a columnist, consultant, coach, and an analyst