Are Gen Z the Me, Me, Me Generation?

Nov 13, 2025

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QUESTION: Are Gen Z Me, Me, Me?

BIG IDEAS:

Lots of complaints from a team leader around respect for him and org. His belief that his younger team members are overconfident and think they are superior
Do leaders need to prioritize the organization over themselves
Leaders looking for themselves in future leaders (projection)
Generalizations around generations
We tend to overestimate when people were born, but what they went through and where are they now in their lives that make a difference
What 25-year-old prioritizes the organization over themselves?
Gen Z were hit really hard by Covid, and it defines how we see the world
Perception that Gen Z lacks patience and don't want to put in the work
Dunning Krueger Effect or status quos on timelines?
Learning can happen much faster, but they lack experience
When we judge others for judging, we are judging too
Is it a lack of patience?
Envy and resentment growing -- wish to have the attitude that Gen Z has
Tension between the "new way" and the "old way"
COVID shifted priorities for people, yet companies want to go back to the way things were (working in the office being a top priority)
What does it mean to "go back to normal"?
"That's the way we've always done it," can get in the way of growth
Adapt rather than fight it
Equity of treatment across generations and work preferences
It's not about working 50% versus, it's about working 50% or leaving the company
We only need to love 20% of our work to find meaning in all of our work
Only 14% of people are engaged -- how is that measured?
Are we asking too much of people for their work?
How much is the perception of engagement valid across generations?
How much show off and show me rose due to the self facing camera?
Over praising leading to overconfidence
Instead of keeping them down, give them the opportunity to safely fail
Seeing the gray area between people's truths

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Podcast || Social Science Bites - Episode on Generational Myths
Book || Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham
Book || Think Again by Adam Grant