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It\u2019s no secret that Gen Z often gets flak, with new criticisms including that they\u2019re the hardest generation to work with<\/a> and got too many trophies<\/a> growing up. But the bosses at Prada disagree.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead, co-creative designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons want to harness the bright minds of tomorrow.<\/p>\n \u201cYouth is the future. It is hope,\u201d Prada, a baby boomer, told The<\/em> Guardian<\/em><\/a> backstage at their recent menswear show in Milan.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to do something that would express youthful optimism because the times are so bad,\u201d Prada said of their new collection.<\/p>\n Simons, who joined Prada as co-creative director of the brand in 2020, added that when they were creating the collection, the duo \u201cwanted to think like the fresh minds of the youth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, when you get older, you overthink and limit yourself,\u201d the 56-year-old said. \u201cWhen you are young, you just go. And we like that spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n Prada and Simons aren\u2019t the first leaders to want to bottle the creativity of youngsters.\u00a0<\/p>\n At The Body Shop<\/a>, Gen Zers have been invited to the board room<\/a> to share their light bulb moments with management, give input on projects in the works, and, crucially, make the brand attractive to the next generation of customers.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t expect a shadow board of bright young minds to automatically translate to bright new ideas; the link between creativity and age is tenuous at best.\u00a0<\/p>\n Research has shown that we actually hit our creative peak at around 40 years old<\/a>\u2014not in our 20s\u2014because as we age, we have colorful and inspiring experiences before cognitive decline starts to creep in.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, those with more working years behind them are more likely to have the seniority, confidence<\/a>, and assertiveness to challenge the status quo and share their outlandish innovations than those just starting out in their careers.<\/p>\n While some leaders clearly value Gen Z\u2019s ability to think differently from the herd\u2014it\u2019s also exactly why they\u2019re being labeled as challenging colleagues.<\/p>\n Recent research from Resume Genius highlighted that 45% of employers find Gen Z the most difficult generation to work with, with 50% of Gen Z hiring managers agreeing with the sentiment.<\/a><\/p>\n Today, young workers want more than a paycheck (specifically, meaningful jobs with sustainability policies<\/a> and clear boundaries<\/a>) and studies show<\/a> that they are even willing to earn less to join a business that matches their values.<\/p>\n But\u2014aside from being a logistic nightmare for management\u2014that isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing: With employee stress and burnout<\/a> rapidly on the rise and mothers still heavily penalized<\/a> by traditional working norms, having a generation that\u2019s dead set on reimagining how they work may benefit everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGen Z has already shaken things up, but they\u2019re not here to break things: They bring a unique blend of talent and bold ideas that can rejuvenate any workforce,\u201d wrote Geoffrey Scott, senior hiring manager at Resume Genius.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, according to the research, Gen Z managers are most likely to make hiring decisions based on what candidates put down as their \u201chobbies and interests\u201d on their CV, over professional experience.<\/p>\n \u201cGen Zers might have a bad rep, but they have the power to transform workplaces for the better,\u201d Scott concluded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAre young minds really brighter?<\/h2>\n
Gen Z\u2019s new age thinking is what\u2019s got them a bad rep\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n