Generation Z vs Millennials – Wait, There’s a Difference?

The first face-to-face interaction guests will have with your business will be, generally speaking, with some of your youngest employees. Generation Z are the 27 and younger hosts/hostesses, and servers who ARE the face of your business.

Wouldn’t it be great if you actually understood who they are and how they can impact your day-to-day operations?

I’m Not Tryin’ to Cause a Big S-S-Sensation

If you got that reference, you’re either a Baby Boomer or your parents raised you right!

There is plenty of research around the generational differences—so we’ll try to distill it down for you in today’s introduction to the 3-part series that will ultimately focus on the connection and contrast between Millennials (Gen Y) and Gen Z.

More specifically, we’ll explore the integration of Gen Zers (also known as the iGen) into the workplace and into the marketplace, and how that will work with Millennials.

Before we dig in, to make sure we’re all on the same page, the generations we’ll be talking about can be broken into the following four categories. Of course, we’re talking about real people, so the categories are generalizations, and are based primarily on data from this McKenzie study.

We’re All a Product of Our Childhood

Baby Boomers are called such because of the big “BOOM” of births immediately following WWII. They were born between 1944 – 1964.

• They all lived through post-war eras (WWII, Korea, Vietnam)
• Tend to equate self-worth with career success
• Prefer hierarchical structure, resist trends in flexibility in the workplace
• Hard work=money=success
• Hippies and Flower Children

Generation X was raised by Boomers (possibly the most financially secure generation). Because their parents were out bringing home the bacon, these kids became known as “latch-key kids”. Gen Xers are now between 40-54 years old.

• Independent
• Materialistic
• Competitive
• HowStuffWorks identify them as “geeks, independent thinkers, and artists.”

Millennials (Gen Y) have had the unfortunate label “trophy kids” because they came up in a time when everyone got a trophy or other reward just for being. Millennials were born between 1980 – 1994 and are now aged 25-39.

They’re also considered

• Group-focused
• Open-minded/tolerant
• Fun-loving/experiential
• Inquisitive

Generation Zers are very different from Millennials. They are the first generation entirely digital focused. Generation Z includes anyone between ages 12 - 27.

• Radically diverse
• Self-directed & confident
• Vulnerable due to lack real-world experience
• Want cool stuff more than cool things to do

A common mistake made by business owners (and others) is believing that the young people who are coming in for those jobs you need to fill are millennials—they’re not.

Introduction to the Generational Series – Dave Nitzel

What Does This Mean for Business Owners?

In the workforce, we’re going to see a very interesting (and potentially problematic) phenomenon.

Millennials, although the older of the two groups, tended to get into the workplace a bit later, and the Gen Z kids are arriving a bit earlier.

What we’ll see (for the most part) is the Millennials hiring, training, supervising, and mentoring the Gen Zers.

And because the two are so vastly different, we need to be prepared on what to expect, how to guide the integration, and how to best motivate and develop leaders from each generation.

In the next segment, we’ll dive into the workplace implications of Gen Z.

Until next time, keep your radar up and try to notice the differences in your employees; the Gen Zers (under 24 years old) vs the Millennials.

Introduction to Gen Z Source Materials

Generation Z and Its Implications for Companies (McKenzie & Co.)

The Millennial Myth – Crystal Kadakia