It seems like we’re constantly hearing about new ways that younger workers are just DIFFERENT than older generations. Here’s the latest: For decades, people have talked about “climbing the corporate ladder.” But apparently, Gen Z’ers are rejecting that. Instead, they prefer the “career lily pad.”
One “expert” explains it like this: “We’ve traded the rigid ladder for the lily pad, a path where we can jump to whatever opportunity fits best at the moment. In the long run, that kind of flexibility is more sustainable, more realistic, and better suited to today’s workplace realities.”
And there’s data to back it up. In a new survey, 68% of Gen Z workers said they would NOT pursue a management role, unless it came with a bigger paycheck or a more prestigious title.
That sounds good, and it does seem “healthy”, but lily pads are side-by-side. Eventually, you have to advance up to make any progress, right?
Gen Z’ers aren’t less ambitious, they’re just channeling their ambition differently. According to a poll, 57% of Gen Z’ers currently have a side hustle, compared to 48% of Millennials, 31% of Gen X’ers, and 21% of Boomers.
For Gen Z, the day job funds the passion project.
Also, Gen Z workers are expected to make up about 10% of managers this year, so they’re not opposed to taking on management roles on their terms . . .
But rather than following the “rigid hierarchies or micromanagement styles”, they tend to embrace flexibility, prioritize work-life balance, and emphasize collaboration.
Older professionals can take pages out of this playbook by: “Setting boundaries that stick, diversifying your professional portfolio, prioritizing mental health over corporate advancement, and embracing A.I. as a tool, not a threat.”
