Is your organization prepared to embrace Gen Z's sixth sense (technology)? Is your technology infrastructure set up to accommodate how they communicate? How they collaborate? And how they prefer to conduct business every day?
Each generation is defined by their own personal beliefs, public attitudes and work preferences, with the inevitable grievances and misunderstandings between the generational cohorts.
OK Boomer. OK Millennial.
Have you met Generation Z?
These digital natives were raised with a smart phone or tablet in hand. GenZers were born between 1995 and 2010, and make up 25.9 of the US Population. But there’s more to learn about the newest members of today’s professional workplace than just their technology sixth sense.
You may have GenZers in your workplace now. If you don’t, you will soon. Is your organization prepared to embrace Gen Z's sixth sense? Is your technology infrastructure set up to accommodate how they communicate? How they collaborate? And how they prefer to conduct business every day?
5 Key Gen Z Workforce Qualities to Consider:
1. Mobility Matters.
This should come as no surprise.
Consider that, according to online magazine Visual Capitalist, 98 percent of GenZers own a smart phone, and 50% are connected online for 10 hours a day.
Whether you’ve embraced the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) era, or currently struggling with managing your scattered workforce, a Unified Communications platform can help you manage an increasingly scattered workforce and respond to Gen Z key wants.
2. Job Performance is Personal.
Job performance is very important to Generation Z.
According to a survey conducted by Monster.com and global research firm TNS, 76% of Gen Z respondents described themselves as responsible for driving their own career. Meanwhile 58% said they’d be willing to work nights and weekends for higher pay. Compared with previous generations: Only 45% of Millennials said they’d put in more hours for more money, while for Gen X and baby boomers the percentage dropped to 40% or lower.
3. The Entrepreneurial Spirit is Strong.
In his book “Without Their Permission,” Reddit Co-founder and start-up enthusiast Alex Ohanian wrote that “the near ubiquity of the Internet (in the developed world, for now) has brought with it the promise of a global stage on which ideas can come to fruition." He co-created the social news site while in college in 2006.
For a generation that’s grown up around a multitude of startups that took off, it’s no surprise that 72% of older members of Gen Z want to start their own business. While obviously many GenZers will work for YOUR business, this generational entrepreneurial spirit is certainly worth nothing.
4. Workplace Flexibility is also at the Forefront.
For Generation Z (and Millennials alike), workplace flexibility is an employee benefit more important than healthcare coverage.
Flexible schedules, flexible locations: These digital natives are used to accessing information anywhere, anytime, blurring the lines of what constitutes workplace and workday.
Considering and adapting to these work environment conditions is important. Of equal importance, however, is constructing a business and technology strategy that fully supports both infrastructure requirements (is the home Internet connection sufficient?) and employer expectations.
5. Collaboration is Critical.
Indiana University recently released a new study that showed remote attendance through collaboration tools cut absenteeism by 50 percent and increased student satisfaction. This trend, almost certainly, will continue into the workplace.
Developing collaboration tools - video conferencing, content management, file sharing, texting, etc., and integrating them into your everyday workflows will help your organization adapt to GenZ mode of communication: One that is increasingly remote, and one that calls for increased flexibility.
Is your communication platform ready to attract and retain a Gen Z Workforce? Do you own the modern collaboration tools that these young professionals will be expecting as they enter the workplace? Time to consider a Communications Platform that translates better with Gen Z's sixth sense — technology?
