Supervisors and managers have heard the stories, and sometimes the complaints, about the up-​and-​coming Gen Z workforce. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking these employees present a management problem. Using the right team improvement ideas, you can get the most out of your younger employees.

Best Team Improvement Ideas to Boost Gen Z Success

The good news is these employees like being part of a team and want to contribute to team success. While some researchers point out that Gen Z employees value teamwork, they may need coaching. 

One area where coaching will help centers on the length of projects. Work projects often take weeks or months to complete. 

This time horizon may feel interminable to Gen Zers who have been raised on a steady diet of instant gratification. The social media interface trains them to expect “instant payoff,” reports Jenny Fernandez in her FastCompany article. 

Managers should be intentional when reviewing projects with their teams. Setting intermediate goals can break up a lengthy project. Awarding the team and individuals contributors for reaching these goals is a must. 

Gen Z employees will also benefit from coaching on their team role. Every employee comes to their team with unique motivators and experience. To understand how employees will behave on a team, managers should review the results of psychometric assessments.

Gen Z and Their Questions

Managers accustomed to overseeing older employees might bristle at Gen Zers’ tendency to ask questions about the work process. The experts recommend that you don’t take this personally. Your Gen Z employees will have team improvement ideas that are worth listening to. 

Supervisors shouldn’t feel threatened. Instead, you should welcome these questions as evidence of their engagement. Your employees want to be involved and consider a problem from different perspectives.

Work-​Life Balance

Young employees came of age in the COVID-​19 era. They may have never experienced working in the office the way other generations have.

Gen Zers appreciate the opportunity to get to know co-​workers in person. But they also care passionately about their work-​life balance. While you can show flexibility about their work location, set office hours that work best for the team.

If you still cling to the idea that the number of hours in the office equates to productivity, let go. Stay focused on the outcomes you expect. In that regard, your Gen Z employees will let you know about their mental health needs.

Like no generation before, these employees will speak up when they are feeling stressed. Listen closely and offer the types of employee benefits they request. Taking their mental health serves as one of the top team improvement ideas.

 Feedback

Your Gen Z employees will fare better if you provide frequent feedback. Younger employees who are just starting their careers don’t have many benchmarks for comparison purposes. You’ll need to review their output and highlight where they are succeeding.

These highly competitive individuals must also understand how their achievements, or lack of them, impact team success. Fernandez reinforces this concept. Managers must connect “individual success” to the “team’s overall goals…and shared rewards.”

Great Expectations

Every generation enters the workforce with a fresh mindset. The concept of work for Gen Zers may encompass expectations of using corporate power to launch political and social change. This territory can be challenging for organizations.

Corporate leaders and board members will need to set the tone. That tone may not always vibe with what Gen Zers are looking for. But staying focused on the corporate vision and reminding employees to do the same sends a consistent message.

One of the best team improvement ideas may be to give your employees a volunteer day every year. On this day, they can support a cause or organization they’re passionate about.

As your Gen Z employees fill critical roles, they are eager to demonstrate their talents. Implementing creative team improvement ideas is a great way for managers to help. These ideas let these employees stay engaged and make a difference.

Photo by Fauxels on Pexels.