I am coming to the conclusion that all the hyperbole around Gen Z and Millennials is tosh!
So often social media catches on to some irrelevant detail and creates a ‘debate’ about nothing. In my experience, most Millennials and Gen Z’s that I have worked with are self-starting, focused and very pleasant – not the whining, narcissistic personalities they are portrayed as. They are happy working in a mixed environment with all types of personalities and are happy to share knowledge and absorb experience from older co-workers.
So actually, those of us responsible for creating the workplaces of the next 10 years need to focus more on the other end of that age spectrum – or more importantly, on an all-inclusive model.
In fact, a recent article argues that “we are heading for an economic disaster by ignoring the implications of increased life and work-life expectancy.” Economic realities mean that many can no longer afford to ‘retire’ at 65, and indeed they don’t want to as they still have a lot to offer. (By the way – this is where the 5G comes from; five generations in the same place)
In my opinion, we will see the emergence of a workplace that supports 5G Workforce dynamics, but with a ruthless focus on effectiveness and productivity. This will be a fusion of a very customized (almost ‘hive at work’) working environment – the ‘Sentient Workplace’ and the office as a place to meet and socialise – the ‘Hospitality Workspace’. Elements of the former will be needed to particularly accommodate the needs of an older worker (more control over climate, distraction etc) – although I don’t see the IoT delivering quite the joined up micro-climatic experience articulated in this vision. The latter model will be more appealing to the younger workforce as the division between ‘work’ and ‘life’ becomes ever more porous. But this will also be driven by the need for spaces in which the different generations can learn from each other. It will also show tendencies for different ‘neighborhoods’ within the workplace to develop (just as you do in housing) – allowing the generations to congregate with their peers when working solo.