There’s a song from 1988 that opens with a line that’s just as relevant today as it was then.
Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door
“The Living Years,” Mike + The Mechanics
The song is not about workplace friction. It’s much deeper than that. But that first line still resonates with me, because it’s true.
Nothing new here
Every generation has been somebody’s problem. Our parents rolled their eyes at their parents. We were the “kids who haven’t paid their dues yet.” So when I hear managers grumbling about Gen Z, I’m not surprised. We’re just the latest chapter in a very old story.
A brief word of caution
Sweeping statements about a generation are risky. Applying them to the individual in front of you is worse. Every Gen Z employee is a person, not a stereotype.
But if we look closely, there are some patterns. And ignoring them doesn’t help anyone.
Here’s one pattern I’ve noticed.
Two stories, one puzzle
Recently, two stories landed in my lap that seemed to contradict each other.
The first came from a sports podcast I listen to daily. The hosts noticed that a championship celebration seemed quieter than usual and wondered if cell phones were part of the reason. When anyone can film you at any moment, maybe people think twice before cutting loose. Maybe Gen Z decides it’s not worth the risk to ask someone out, or try something where they could fail in public.
The second came from my wife, Michelle. Her social media feed was blowing up over whether it’s okay to bring an iced coffee to a job interview. Plenty of Gen Z said sure. Plenty of Gen X said absolutely not.
So which is it? Is Gen Z afraid of embarrassment, or unbothered by what people think?
Both. And I think the difference is who’s watching.
The not-so-imaginary audience
When I was a teenager, I worried about an imaginary audience. Most of the time, nobody was actually looking at me. Gen Z’s audience can be real, and social media can expand it into millions. One awkward moment, filmed and posted, can follow you for years. That’s a legitimate risk, and caution makes sense.
But the guy behind the desk at an interview is one person. If he doesn’t approve of their iced coffee, no harm, no foul. It’s just a job. They’ll go find one somewhere else. Being comfortable and being themselves matters more to Gen Z than passing a test they never agreed to take.
What it means for us leaders
If you find yourself bothered by an iced coffee, that’s okay. We were all imprinted by the norms of our day.
But before you react, pause and consider what you’re really reacting to. Some of what we call professionalism is values, and those matter. And some of it is the workplace equivalent of men wearing hats to the office. Just because that’s what they did back in the 50s doesn’t mean we should hang onto it today. Standards should serve values. When they stop, it’s worth asking why we’re holding on.
And when you do need to correct someone, connect first. Many Gen Z grew up with parents who explained everything, so correction without relationship rarely lands. If they don’t feel seen, your opinion is just noise.
Next time someone walks in with an iced coffee, get curious before you judge.
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