It can be especially tough to be a Gen Z today—coming of age in a world that is polarized and high pressure—and one which demands skills that Gen Zs may not have had a chance to develop in the same ways as other generations.
In addition, as Gen Z enters the workforce, they have no point of reference for how work used to be. Not that the past was ideal, but they’re joining a landscape of work that is ambiguous and unpredictable at the same time it is demanding, difficult and even draining.
In fact, 91% of Gen Zs reported feeling stress and 98% said they felt burned out, according to a survey by Cigna.
The Skills Gen Zs Need
How can Gen Z survive and also thrive? These are the key skills they must build as they create a bright future.
Gen Zs report that they lack friendships and fully 25% of those in the youngest working cohort have no friends at all—or only one close friend, according to a survey by YouGov.
It’s logical they would struggle, because they have grown up communicating through screens and relating from a distance, even before the pandemic. Many are more comfortable on text than telephone and avoidant or awkward about face-to-face interactions.
Developing skills in reading others, being sensitive to them and demonstrating empathy are critical to wellbeing. And progressing through life requires the ability to listen to others, articulate your point of view, exchange ideas and compromise.
Of course Gen Zs aren’t devoid of these skills, but to expand them, they can seek out opportunities for collaborating with others and working on teams—at work or in volunteer endeavors. They can connect with others through recreational activities or even professional associations. It will be about building muscle in socializing and relating.
Unfortunately, many people believe all disagreement is harmful, but it is unrealistic to think that life can be free of conflict. In actuality, the best innovations are often the result of lively debate, resulting in fresh ideas.
Gen Zs need skills in tolerating different points of view and valuing disagreement—which can be a source for learning more about others’ perspectives and also their own. There is strength in being able to suspend judgement and understand another person’s stance—and then to being able to stand firm or compromise based on listening and learning.
To enhance their skills in tolerating and even embracing constructive conflict, Gen Zs can seek out those who hold different views, build skills in asking questions and listening and develop the ability to respect people broadly.
A sobering 68% of business owners find Gen Zs to be the “least reliable” of all their employees, according to a survey by the Freedom Economy Index. And a significant number of Gen Zs reported they are unengaged at work, according to the Cigna survey.
Unfortunately, as Gen Zs were brought up, they may have been rewarded for outcomes, rather than for effort—and for many, this reinforced a preference to avoid hard things and instead seek achievements that would be a sure thing. It may also have cemented a belief that their capabilities were static, rather than a belief in their capability to improve—a growth mindset in which you can always learn and develop, even if you fail at first.
But work demands the ability to put effort toward tasks which may not be fun or simple. Interestingly, the harder you work at something, the more happy and satisfied you’ll be when you accomplish it. Sweating (literally or figuratively) has tremendous benefits in building confidence, esteem and the desire to try again the next time.
Gen Zs can develop a skill of accountability by committing to hard work, following through and sticking with it when things get tough. It’s also wise to seek challenging assignments. Failure is a barometer for effort—and if you’re not failing sometimes, you may not be trying hard enough.
Gen Zs can also lean into the learning that comes from failure. When people examined failure and were intentional about reflecting on their mistakes, they were able to succeed more often in the future, according to research published in Frontiers of Behavioral Neuroscience.
Patience is related here too—and Gen Zs will need the patience to stick with a job they may not love, work through relationships which may not be easy and be patient about career growth that demands experience.
Another key skill Gen Zs must develop is that of sensemaking. We are all bombarded every day with news media, social media and information from so many sources. We have data at our fingertips, but a key skill is being able to find order in the chaos, and to discern what is credible—and what isn’t.
Gen Zs have a unique challenge, having been born into a world of so much, always on, all the time. They must develop the skill of knowing what to sort out and to ignore. And they need to be able to turn off and get distance from the cacophony as well.
Gen Zs can set boundaries for themselves—about how much time they’ll spend online. And they can establish habits in seeking trustworthy information beyond headlines and clickbait, asking why and examining issues more deeply. They can also seek diverse points of view—going beyond what algorithms present them with—and exploring beyond their feeds.
Many Gen Zs are fragile in terms of their wellbeing and their esteem—and they must build resilience if they are to successfully face a life which includes inevitable hardships.
Gen Zs can remind themselves that happiness ebbs and flows and it’s natural and normal to have hard times. Despite the headlines which suggest life should be easy and all stress is negative, some stress contributes to happiness. Eustress is the just-right amount of challenge which motivates action and engagement in life—and it’s healthy to embrace stretch opportunities.
Gen Zs can seek out challenges—because stretching, growing and learning help develop the ability to solve problems, persevere and get through tough times—feeling capable and confident in the process.
And Gen Zs can develop the ability to look beyond themselves and expand their perspective to the wellbeing of others—and make meaningful contributions, as this is a solid path to their own mental health and happiness.
Moving Ahead
In reality, all generations need these kinds of skills, and Gen Z can lead the way in expanding and enhancing them.
There will always be bumps in the road and things that aren’t ideal, but it’s possible to create the conditions for happiness and wellbeing despite these challenges. And building all kinds of skills will help ensure the future is bright for Gen Z—and all of us.