Managing Gen Z and Gen Alpha without going crazy
© 2021 Henry Rose Lee. Unauthorised copying strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. Let’s talk family! What’s changed in the last 40 years? What’s changed in the last 40 years? What’s changed in the last 40 years? What’s changed in the last 40 years? Which generation are you?
Generation Types Dates
Silent Generation 1925 to 1945
Baby Boomers 1946 to 1964
Generation X 1965 to 1980
Millennials (Gen Y) 1981 to 1996
Generation Z 1997 to 2009
Generation Alpha 2010 to 2025
Source: Office of National Statistics (UK) and Pew Research Center (USA) Key points about generational theory The Silent Generation
Born 1925 to 1945 • The Queen (Elizabeth II)
The Silent • Marilyn Monroe
Generation • Trevor Bayliss
• Mary Quant
• Joe Biden Born 1925 to 1945 Baby Boomers
Born 1946 to 1964 • Oprah Winfrey
Baby • Tim Berners-Lee Boomers • Elton John
• Madonna
• Julie Walters Born 1946 to 1964 True or False?
Older generations like Silents and Baby Boomers can’t use technology as well as Millennials and Generation Z FALSEFALSE The Winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry include one Baby Boomer and two Silents
John Goodenough Stanley Whittingham Akiro Yoshino Aged 97 Aged 77 Aged 71 Generation X
Born 1965 to 1980 • Will Smith Generation X • J K Rowling • Bryn & Page
• Victoria Beckham
• Daniel Craig Born 1965 to 1980 True or False?
Generation X are the happiest of all generations today
FALSE Millennials
Born 1981 to 1996 • Usain Bolt Millennials • MalalaYousafzi • Prince Harry
• Ed Sheeran
• Little Mix Born 1981 to 1996 What do people say about the youngest generations today?
“Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority … they contradict their parents and tyrannise their teachers”
“Modern fashions seems to keep on growing more and more debased…”
“A mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements … they require out-door exercises–not this sort of mental gladiatorship.”
“There is, as never before, an attitude on the part of young folk - which is best described as grossly thoughtless, rude and utterly selfish” What do people say about the youngest generations today?
“Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority … they Socrates contradict their parents and tyrannise their teachers” 470 BC
Essays in Idleness “Modern fashions seems to keep on growing more and more debased…” 1330
Mother’s Journal “A mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted 1853 to nobler acquirements … they require out-door exercises–not this sort of mental gladiatorship.”
“There is, as never before, an attitude on the part of young folk - which is best described as grossly thoughtless, rude and utterly selfish” Hull Daily Mail 1925 Three factors impact every generation
Lifecycle Factors Periodic Factors Cohort Factors (including EQi)
Sources: James Dray, Brunswick Generation Z
Born 1997 to 2009 • Greta Thunberg Generation Z • Tom Holland • Zendaya
• Asa Butterfield Born 1997 to 2009 Gen Alpha
Born 2010 to 2025 • Your kids!
• Prince George
Gen Alpha • Sunny Pawar (Lion)
• Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project)
• Jools Oliver and 5 kids Born 2010 to 2025 Remove the labels and all generations fall into 3 categories
Pre-Internet Post-Internet Post-Social Media • Social & comms skills • Social & comms skills • Social/comms skills are under-developed • Lack of product choice • Increasing technology • Huge set of choices • Strong parental authority • More product choices • “Glass” generations • Fixed retirement • More working options • Information overload Choose 1 answer
Which values conflict does Gen Z feature? a. They want promotions but don’t want to work too hard b. They want to build a career yet also be entrepreneurial At work and home Gen Z combine confidence with anxiety
Technology versus Entrepreneurialism Competition versus Face-to-face versus career Collaboration Choose 1 answer
Which values conflict does Gen Alpha feature? a. They want to save the planet but are highly materialistic b. They are flexible and tolerant but worry about personal status Generation Alpha combine “political” thinking with materialism
Shopping versus Technology versus Identity versus waste reduction & the environment belonging recycling
Here’s the real challenge for us as parents and managers; we are already obsolete!!!! Three actions help parents to get the best out of Gen Z and Gen Alpha
Transparency Autonomy Role Modelling Transparency
Tell the truth
Think out loud
Share your feelings (happy & sad)
Keep talking and interacting Autonomy
Create the right environment
Give control and freedom
Go with the flow
Keep talking and sharing Role Modelling
Do what you say you’ll do
Join in
Do deals (but not bribery)
Learn from your kids Role Modelling
Includes: • Showing love • Providing support • Setting limits • Teaching responsibility • Providing a range of experiences • Showing respect • Communication • Getting involved • Self-esteem, optimism & happiness What all kids do – from 0 to 30
Includes: • Testing boundaries • Acting out • Experimenting • Using new language Lead …
Includes: • Do a re-set experience • Do a lone-parent with 1 child activity • Set boundaries & expectations • Be patient and optimistic • Accept experiments • Use positive language • Use the five Cs Back off…
Successful employees and successful children don’t need helicopter parenting or management. They need to: • Find ways to solve their own problems
• Make an effort to do things for themselves
• Take calculated risks
• Be confident of their own abilities
Source: Self-Determination Theory 2008 & Developmental Psychology 2018 Thank You
Henry Rose Lee
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