𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 10 𝘵𝘰 15 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴. — Gina Riley

After watching Gina’s DisruptHR presentation on the impact of remote work on young professionals and learning that she has two sons in their early 20s—as I do—I knew we had to chat.

For many of us who’ve been in the workforce for a while, WFX has been the most logical option for navigating the unpredictable covid era.

And after three years—if you’re like me—you may have said “Hey, I’ve got all the technology I need, right here at home. I can save on gas and avoid the stress of a commute. How could anyone prefer to return to the office?”

But remote work isn’t necessarily ideal for everyone, including young professionals who could benefit from workplace socialization—just as the rest of us did.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

The ability to read and respond to social cues is invaluable. Interpreting body language and facial expressions can impact the success of communication and collaboration efforts.

These subtle signals—picked up more easily IRL—help create a sense of understanding and connection, which in turn foster trust and strong working relationships.

Even conflict in the workplace provides opportunities for young professionals to grow, as they learn tools to navigate uncomfortable situations and conversations.

And how about the benefits of getting to know the full person behind those short (read: curt) DMs, or the rewards of building relationships beyond their direct line of reporting—which they might not get otherwise?

𝗦𝗼, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆?

🤝 Be open to hybrid arrangements; consider the benefits of on-site work, including the opportunity to learn from their most senior leaders.

🤝 Be intentional about mentorship and leadership development for Gen Zers in the workforce, so they’ll have the foundation for effective leadership and communication down the line.

🤝 Prioritize mental health and invest in HR leaders who can build strategies for inclusion, while staying mindful of the unique challenges faced by new professionals.

🤝 Encourage communication and connection through face-to-face interactions, rather than relying solely on texts and Slack.

As the debate over remote vs. in-person work continues, let’s consider the impact on young professionals and interns as they launch their careers.

And don’t forget the benefits of having Gen Z in the office. They bring fresh perspectives and ideas we can all learn from…if we listen.

Find the link to our conversation in the comments. 👇

#careercohort #remotework #genz

Here’s the link to the episode on Apple podcasts

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Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

Cultivating Empathy with Gen Z and Why it Matters

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Advice from a Gen Zer: How to Land & Thrive in College Internships