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If leading Gen Z has you second-guessing yourself, this episode is your reset.

Right now, five generations are working side by side. According to the World Economic Forum, the age span in today’s workforce has never been wider. Gen Z entered work during disruption, institutional mistrust, and rapid change—and that context matters.

Drawing on insights from Meg Jay’s The Defining Decade and research from Deloitte and Society for Human Resource Management, this episode reframes the tension:

Gen Z doesn’t need softer leadership. They need clearer leadership.

The issue isn’t entitlement. It’s unclear expectations.

You’ll learn how shared agreements—not generational exceptions—restore confidence, reduce friction, and help your team know what success actually looks like.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Most generational tension is an expectations gap.
When standards aren’t explicit, younger staff disengage—not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how to win.

2. Frequent feedback equals clarity, not fragility.
Gen Z wants to know sooner if they’re off track.

3. Shared agreements rebuild your confidence.
When expectations are visible and consistent, you stop reacting and start leading again.

If this episode resonates, your next step may be resetting expectations—not lowering them.

Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change.

After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance.

Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout?

Grab my free guide - 4 Strategies for Nonprofit CEOs to Reduce Burnout, Unify Your Team & Build a Culture That Lasts. Go to https://culturecares.com/guide.

If this episode resonated, I invite you to join my Tuesday newsletter. Each week I share the podcast topic, practical leadership insights, and occasional special offers and event invitations designed to help you lead with clarity without burning out.

If you know another nonprofit leader who could use this support, please pass it along. And if you’d ever like to connect directly, you can reach me at https://culturecares.com.