Generation Z are becoming bosses and how they communicate with their staff proves they’ve thrown out the Boomer rule book.
Currently, there’s a video picking up traction online where Theodore, a Gen Z retail boss, is sharing the casual texts he sends his staff.
He explained that how he communicates with people on his team stems from wanting to behave differently from the kind of managers he’d previously had.
Traditionally, communication with your boss is often formal, especially when it is written.
Phrases like “let’s circle back to that later” and “I appreciate that feedback” are used religiously and often; the language in your messages can feel comically different to how you would speak to friends or family.
Online corporate lingo is often discussed and mocked, recently, a post went viral on Xby marketer Brooklin Nash that called out how work language usually has a double meaning.
He claimed if someone writes “per my last email” they mean “f–k you”. If someone writes “apologies for the delay”, they mean “f–k me”, and if someone writes “cc’ing in for visibility” that means “you’re f–ked”.
The post was a joke, but it resonated so much that it has been viewed over 11 million times and proves that the flowery work language Boomer and Gen Y bosses made famous can be more complex and have a double meaning,
Theodore has decided to take a more direct approach.
His communication style is far less formal, but his employees certainly aren’t left trying to unpack what he meant by that “as per my last request” message.
For example, when one staff member messaged and asked if they could leave work early because they needed to feed their horse.
A niche reason to get out of work at the best of times, but Theodore replied and said it was no problem as long as the employee sent him some “cute” photos of their horse.
Similarly, when a staff member texted him to make sure he didn’t put back a black bag they planned on purchasing on the shop floor, Theodore happily ignored the policy of no staff holds and replied, “Love that for you!”.
When a staff member messaged to say they would be late for work, the Gen Zer skimmed right past the berating and told them to come in as quickly as they could and “rescue” him.
Theodore’s casual response might send shivers down the spine of anyone who has become used to corporate lingo and formal work language, but he believes it is very effective.
When someone online said that because he was casual with his staff he would struggle to “discipline” them when he needed to, Theodore said he actually “rarely” needs to give any of his staff negative feedback.
“I very rarely need to because they trust me and come to me with problems before it gets to that point,” he said.
He added that he doesn’t have an ‘us Vs. them’ mentality when it comes to management and said he feels he and his staff are all in it “together.”
Online, though, the majority of feedback from people was praise for Theodore’s friendly management style.
Someone wrote that he wasn’t simply managing his team but showing kindness, which meant he was being a leader.
Another said Theodore’s messages showed that if you treat your staff well, they’ll do “anything” for you.
One person said seeing these messages was “amazing” and made her excited to see the next generation manage people.
Another said these kinds of messages were exactly “what we need” to see more of and that managers should behave like humans and not “robots.”
Global head of talent at Employment Hero Kate Jolly said that, while Gen Z bosses do things differently, they are “critical” team members.
“These young leaders are ambitious, unencumbered by adhering to traditional ways of working, and have a deep understanding of how to leverage technology to get the best results,” she said.
Mrs Jolly said that Generation Z constantly impresses her in the workforce because they are switched on.
“They make the most of today’s tech, social trends and our remote-first approach to ensure their teams have everything they need to succeed. I’m constantly impressed and inspired by Gen Z’s mission-focused approach and output,” she said.
