Generation Z - The worst generation?!?!?

I have been working with students from all across faculties for over 8 years now.  I’ve also been training at different levels of the corporates.  Till about a month ago, I had the constant thought of what kind of kids are going to lead this country forward.  They don’t speak good language, have a delusional sense of self-worth, have confused relationship concepts, are driven by technology and don’t even get me started on their value systems.  They have also broken all records of alcohol and drug dependability, sexually transmitted diseases and suicides.  Where is the world heading?  And it is only getting worse. 

However, it was in a brief interaction with 4 very well-educated Generation X and Millennial individuals, that my entire perspective changed.  I now understand something that I wish many of us in power understand soon.  As I listened to these individuals criticizing the newcomers of their organization for various reasons and tell of their personal stories of hard work and discipline thus comparing it to how easy it is for today’s kids, I couldn’t but observe the bad language they spoke, the rigidity they showcased and how little they appreciated the world in which they currently lived in.  I went off that meeting completely transformed in my mind about Gen Z and perhaps even Gen Alpha. 

So here is the truth.  And this is for some Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials, me included.  Stop ranting about your stories of hard work.  The truth is you didn’t even know the concept of smart work during your time.  We too bunked college, disobeyed our parents, we too divorced and had bad relationships, did some shitty things and got our chances to life.  You and I created the world we are in today.  We cut the trees, we design the education system, our own language is filthy at times, we have no time for our kids sometimes and now we destroy them further on with our criticism.  We fail to change with time, We fail them. 

But the fact is, I don’t look at them as failures at all.  I have met students who are brilliant with mind-blowing creativity, a keen curiosity to learn and a knack to do things at half the speed we could ever.  Today the language is different, instant gratification is the trend, which in the animal kingdom is actually how it works.  Kids do not depend on stereotypes anymore but believe they can do anything.  You have no idea what pressures they face to keep their family happy with their scores, compete with AI tools for jobs, deal with unseen wars, and market dynamics to still keep their lives stable…today’s times are crazier than ever before. 

So, what should we be doing?  Definitely, not giving them negative gyan or constantly putting them down… Perhaps we need to add our flavor to this world, not by nagging, insulting and correcting all the time, but by learning new ways, educating ourselves further, and changing who we were to who we can be for them.  By not being bosses anymore, because trust me, you won’t last.  But by learning how to mentor and coach.  By not discriminating between generations and their ways, but by changing from one generation to the next to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.  Otherwise, what good is your years of experience and knowledge if you have forgotten how to change?  We need to add our values to today’s new bees with immense respect, love and consideration.  For that, we would have to become very flexible, be ready to turn into a different shade and get involved in how people think today.  And if you can’t do that…at least we must stop criticizing.  

Shalini Gamre

www.shalinigamre.com