Gen Z ushers in new workplace leadership culture

BY the end of this year, one in 10 managers in the United States will be from Generation Z. This is not a distant projection it's a management trend that's happening right now, with other economies following close behind. Much more than a mere statistic, it represents a cultural turning point in the workplace.

- JEFF LEBLANC

Change agents

I've spent the last decade teaching leadership and strategy to Gen Z students. I've watched them go from unsure first-years to confident professionals. And what I've learned is simple: Gen Z isn't waiting for the workplace to change they're changing it themselves.

Recently, Glassdoor released new data showing dramatic increases in the way workplace culture is being discussed. And the results are both striking and revealing:

◆ Well-being mentions are up 222%

◆ Burnout is up 126%

◆ Boundaries are up 99%

◆ Empathy and inclusion are up 76%

◆ Clarity is up 52%

Each of these tells its own story, and collectively they signal the arrival of a new leadership style one built on care, communication and clarity.

Well-being

Well-being isn't just about yoga and flexible schedules. It's about creating environments in which people can thrive. Gen Z leaders don't see this as a perk they see it as a basic requirement. Understanding that productivity is impossible without psychological safety, they talk openly about mental health and normalise asking for help.

Older generations were often taught to “leave it at the door”. Gen Z is challenging the assumption that things need to be this way. They believe that the human experience belongs in the workplace not in spite of professionalism, but as an essential part of it.

Burnout