039: Gen Z at Work: Stereotypes, Challenges, and the Power of Empathy

So Tim, let's, let's set this, this podcast up because one of the things I hear all the times with teams is, and I'm gonna call it a cuss word almost, it's this big V word, vulnerability, and everybody looks at this word as such a, a negative word.

And, and I wanna frame this podcast that we're not talking about weaknesses here.

Um, we're, we're really inviting people in for a conversation, right, around what, what are some of the struggles and, and vulnerabilities, but how do we use this as, as a, not a weakness, but als- it's a strength.

It's a strength, where each, each person feels where this is a strength and not a weakness.

Yeah, no doubt about it.

So when I did focus groups with all the different generations that show up at work, this is what I began to uncover, and it really led to this.

Each generation, based on their life station...

You know, some are toward the end of their career-

Mm

...

some are in the middle, some at the beginning.

We felt like there's a sense of, like, "Gosh, I feel vulnerable to AI," "I feel vulnerable to being seen as a dinosaur," or whatever, somewhere in between.

So we just thought this would be so helpful, listeners, f- to actually h- have you hear from members of Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen X, uh, and the Boomers.

So Susan, I'm really looking forward to it because if nothing else, it's gonna make us more empathetic leaders-

Mm

...

when we understand the people around us.

Yeah, and I want, and I want our listeners to think about vulnerabilities as a superhero power.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I really do think people that are allowed to, to be vulnerable, it's a superhero power.

So let's talk about, um, what we mean by vulnerabilities.

We don't mean flaws.

We don't mean deficiencies.

But maybe it's the fears, right, that people-

So Tim, let's, let's set this, this podcast up because one of the things I hear all the times with teams is, and I'm gonna call it a cuss word almost, it's this big V word, vulnerability, and everybody looks at this word as such a, a negative word.

And, and I wanna frame this podcast that we're not talking about weaknesses here.

Um, we're, we're really inviting people in for a conversation, right, around what, what are some of the struggles and, and vulnerabilities, but how do we use this as, as a, not a weakness, but als- it's a strength.

It's a strength, where each, each person feels where this is a strength and not a weakness.

Yeah, no doubt about it.

So when I did focus groups with all the different generations that show up at work, this is what I began to uncover, and it really led to this.

Each generation, based on their life station...

You know, some are toward the end of their career-

Mm

...

some are in the middle, some at the beginning.

We felt like there's a sense of, like, "Gosh, I feel vulnerable to AI," "I feel vulnerable to being seen as a dinosaur," or whatever, somewhere in between.

So we just thought this would be so helpful, listeners, f- to actually h- have you hear from members of Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen X, uh, and the Boomers.

So Susan, I'm really looking forward to it because if nothing else, it's gonna make us more empathetic leaders-

Mm

...

when we understand the people around us.

Yeah, and I want, and I want our listeners to think about vulnerabilities as a superhero power.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I really do think people that are allowed to, to be vulnerable, it's a superhero power.

So let's talk about, um, what we mean by vulnerabilities.

We don't mean flaws.

We don't mean deficiencies.

But maybe it's the fears, right, that people-