Professor Julie Henry from UQ's School of Psychology recommends taking an active stance against generational profiling in the workplace in this ABC online article.
At his Senate Estimates appearance on May 24, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw made a bold statement.
"Gen Z — the younger generation — need [praise] three times a week … from their supervisors," he said, passing on an insight he'd picked up from trend forecaster Michael McQueen.
In contrast, Millennials require praise three times a year and Gen Xers just once, he said.
While Commissioner Kershaw's comments received plenty of pushback, they illustrated a commonly held stereotype: Gen Z is the neediest generation.
But the world's Gen Zs — all 2 billion of them — are not the only generation to suffer typecasting.
According to popular thinking, Millennials are entitled, Gen Xers are cynical, and Baby Boomers are narcissistic.
Professor Henry recommends taking an active stance against generational profiling in the workplace — including against yourself.
"If you're concerned that you're too old … you're fulfilling the stereotype," she says.
Her key piece of advice? Be a master of your own destiny.
"At any age, if you feel you're being put in a box and it's not a box you want to be in, you should absolutely not allow yourself to be put in that box.
"Part of it is recognising these boxes and challenging them –saying no, this doesn't apply to me."
