The Next Big Idea Daily Stop Complaining About Gen Z. Start Leading Them.
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Nov 17, 2025 Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders and author focused on generational leadership, joins researcher Heather E. McGowan to discuss leading Gen Z. They tackle the Peter Pan paradox, highlighting Gen Z's high authority perception versus delayed maturity. Tim shares the importance of mentoring, effective communication strategies, and debunking myths about Gen Z. Heather emphasizes empathy in leadership and creating collaborative work cultures that inspire intrinsic motivation. Together, they advocate for a shift in leadership that values connection, leading to better workplace outcomes.
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Peter Pan Paradox Of Gen Z
- Tim Elmore observes a "Peter Pan paradox": Gen Z shows authority without traditional titles but delayed maturity.
- They bring intuition about AI and culture yet often lack social-emotional development due to pandemic effects.
Maya’s Late-Night AI Breakthrough
- Tim Elmore describes Maya, who seemed unprofessional but later solved a team problem using AI late at night.
- Her idea transformed the team and revealed hidden value beneath visible workplace behaviors.
Colin Webb Left After Being Ignored
- Tim Elmore shares Colin Webb's story: he emailed GM's CEO with ideas, got initial support, then was stifled and left after a year.
- Colin later founded startups and succeeded, showing organizations lose talent when they ignore young voices.
