At the Interchange next Wednesday September 10 we will be focusing on a topic that has come up time and time again in CEO coaching sessions and leadership forums: leading across generations, specifically managing and leading Gen Z.

The Context: Gen Z (54% disengaged at work) brings different expectations around transparency, boundaries, and feedback that often activate fear-based responses in leaders. The real issue isn't "generational differences"—it's whether we're leading from our Critic (defensive, controlling) or our Executive (conscious, developmental).

To prepare for our discussion, we recommend reading this HBR article Helping Gen Z Find Their Place at Work and a quick watch/listen to Simon Sinek's talk on Embracing Gen Z (it's under 3 minutes).

Questions for Discussion:

1. Recognition: What Gen Z behaviors consistently trigger your Critic? What Default Success Strategy is being challenged?

2. Conscious Choice: How do you catch yourself moving from reactive to conscious leadership in generational moments?

3. Practical Application: What does love-based leadership look like while maintaining non-negotiable standards?

Preparation Exercise:

"Fear Inventory" - Before our session, identify:

• One Gen Z behavior that consistently frustrates you

• What you're afraid it means about your leadership/organization

• How you typically respond (vs. how you want to respond)

• What love-based leadership might look like in that scenario