‘What if the next big disruptor isn’t a what but a who? Yes, we are talking about GenZ. They are starting to enter the workforce, shaping tastes and disrupting whole industries. A generation that is really coming of age that has seen so much of the change the world has experienced in their brief lifetimes. GenZ is the future of the global economy and that future is already at your doorstep. Welcome to “Working with GenZ”.
Nikhil Raval, Podcaster & Author of ‘Target GenZ: Your Guide to Understanding The GenZ’s Mindset On Brands, Work-Life & Learning’.

 

The creative vibe

I overheard a GenZ conversation on choosing a restaurant to go to recently, and I noticed something quite different. Rather than starting with the type of food, the price, or the location – which for me would be primary criteria to consider – the primary factor being discussed was ‘what vibe we are going for’.

The other term I have heard often used by this generation in a similar context is the ‘aesthetic’ value of something, which is defined as ‘a concern for beauty or the appreciation of beauty’.

With all this talk about creative concepts, is GenZ empowered to be truly creative in the workplace?

 

Is GenZ really creative?

GenZ, also known as the iGen or post-millennials, refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012. By 2025, the group will make up a quarter of the Asia–Pacific (APAC) region’s population—the same as millennials (born 1980–1995).

Creativity is often identified as a core value for this cohort. Thanks to their hyper-connectivity and comfort in expressing themselves through digital tools, GenZ is often also described as an agile generation.

As they enter the workforce, this generation is also going to need to be able to successfully navigate and secure their future in the workplace in practical terms. This will require attaining more specific CQ (creative intelligence) capabilities needed to maintain a competitive business advantage.

So how is that company after company and managers from all different generations talk about the importance of creativity, and yet so many lag behind when it comes to supporting real creative development?

 

4 things that set GenZ apart

GenZ certainly seem to have the foundation for creative capabilities development when you consider 4 identifying features:

  • Emphasis on digital platforms: With GenZ being digital natives, they are more likely to embrace digital platforms and incorporate them into their creative thinking and design thinking processes. They are more likely to leverage social media, mobile apps, and other digital tools to create, share, and collaborate on their ideas.
  • Collaborative approach: GenZ is known for their collaborative approach to problem-solving. They are more likely to work in teams and seek input from others to generate innovative ideas. This approach to creative thinking and design thinking will foster more diverse and inclusive solutions.
  • Visual communication: GenZ is a visual generation, and they prefer communicating their ideas through visual mediums such as infographics, videos, and images. This preference will lead to a shift in the way creative thinking and design thinking are executed, with more emphasis on visual communication.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset: GenZ has a strong entrepreneurial mindset, which will impact creative thinking and design thinking. They are more likely to approach problems with a solution-oriented mindset, and this will lead to more innovative and pragmatic solutions.

In summary, GenZ should have solid foundations for creative thinking. GenZ’s unique characteristics, such as their tech-savvy, collaborative approach, visual communication, and entrepreneurial mindset, will undoubtedly impact their creative development. As they continue to enter the workforce and contribute to various industries, their influence will be increasingly evident.

Perhaps the best way we can help this generation reach their potential is identifying and demonstrating how to harness that creative flair, and by providing the systems, tools and processes that will support more strategic development.

It may be time to think about how you can best support the next generation in their creative development.

 

 

In this episode – creativity expert Andrew Grant takes us from the classroom to the boardroom – to discover why adults seem to have lost their creative ability right when they need it the most. We examine themes related to why creativity has gained so much importance for companies today and what it means for GenZ. We will also explore barriers to creativity and how managers can ‘unblock’ the mindset to unleash creative capabilities. Finally – we discuss how long it can take to build and sustain a creative culture. We identify what managers should keep in mind when recruiting GenZ from a creative perspective.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/iooVNSWeuOE
PODCAST: https://podfollow.com/wwgz
LINKED-IN https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7039387333413990400/ 

 

 

Develop deep problem-solving skills with a Creative Solutions Collaborator Canvases

Leading a new generation will require a complete rethink. This is a challenge that will require a creative new approach, as old ways of leading won’t necessarily work. Organisations should be attuned to three unique considerations related to consumption for GenZ that will likely impact the ways they work:
1. access rather than possession,
2. an expression of individual identity,
3. a matter of ethical concern.

The ‘Creative Solutions Collaborator Canvas’ takes teams through a highly adaptive process that will help to identify core values such as these and to find creative expression for them in the workplace. http://collaboratorcanvas.com/