Corporate Leaders and Meaningful Work 

Ashley Uyeta

Growing up, there has always been this idea of whatever job I get in the future, it'll make me happy. I only wanted a job that I was passionate about and it felt like the sky's the limit. As years went by, that idea slowly faded away, I thought I was naive for thinking that way as a child. In high school and college, they try to prep you for the real world, choosing a career, finding a job, but it became less about what made me happy and more about how much income I would make, if there were any jobs or careers in that field, and if I'd make enough money to survive in our economy. I felt like I had to sacrifice what made me happy to find a good career, or take something that I love and turn it into something that I despise. As my college career is near its end, the idea of mindlessly working away for the rest of my life seems harrowing.  

Until I was reintroduced to the idea of meaningful work. 

The concept of meaningful work has always been in the back of my subconscious, but something that I pushed aside. While I did believe work could bring meaning to my life, I've never thought about it in a way that encompasses my personal life and happiness being heavily involved within the workplace. But as newer generations are entering the workforce,  the environment is being disrupted and meaningful work is making its way to the top of headlines. 

"Gen Z and Millennials are unique when it comes to demanding a work-life balance. They don't just want flexible work hours and environments, they want to work for companies that align with their own personal beliefs and values. And almost half of Gen Z and Millennials would rather be unemployed than unhappy in a job, according to a new study" (Finurah Contributor). 

More and more people are starting to realize that they don't have to sacrifice themselves to be unhappily successful in the workplace. The vocalization of different parts of our lifestyles that we want to carry with us in the workplace as we get older is creating a shift for a better environment all around. Making a lot of money and having a big salary does not always equate to being successful, as a society, we have made that a constraint for ourselves, but now it's changing for the better! Work shouldn't just be about work, it should involve being social, creating connections, having fun, and doing something good for people or the world. 

So now that society has started to shift towards finding meaningful work, what comes next?

Businesses have to follow the change as well. They must keep up with the social trends and movements to stay ahead of the curve. If they wait too long to change their practices, they risk losing potential and a competitive advantage. 

""Young people want to bring their whole selves to work, which is reflected in their determination not to compromise their personal values when choosing an employer," Noordende said. "Businesses need to rethink their approach to attracting and retaining staff or face serious competition"" (Finurah Contributor). 

I decided to take a look at not only what Gen Z and Millennials want in an employer, but also what kinds of different corporate leaders methods are used in different businesses. 

Based on different sources, I have compiled a list of what Gen Z and Millennials want from their employers:

• who are flexible and care about their wellbeing
• to be ethical 
• open and transparent
• who support diverse and inclusive workplace
• who care about the environmental impacts of the company 

71% of Gen Z and Millennials surveyed state that the ability to work from anywhere was important. 

49% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennials surveyed state that they wouldn't work for a company that didn't make diversity a priority. 

56% of Gen Z and 55% of Millennials surveyed state they would quit their jobs if it interfered with their personal lives. 

49% of Gen Z surveyed state that their personal ethics play a role in their career choice. 

So what kind of corporate leaders are out there that would fit the Gen Z and Millennial criteria?

A quick google search allowed me to find information on different type of leadership techniques used in businesses. Here is what I found: 

Types of Corporate Leaders: 

• Autocratic Leadership

This is the type of leader that would want the most authority and control over the decisions being made, very little do they talk to or consult their colleagues or employees. For autocratic leaders, the decision process is very isolated and solitary process. This type of leadership means that there is only one role with high executive power. 

• Bureaucratic Leadership

The bureaucratic leaderships is a rule follower based concept, it's those who like consistency and accuracy, especially when it comes to procedures and polices in place. Employees are expected to have formal professionalism within the workplace, as well as with one another. Rewards and promotions are give to the employees that follow the rules and procedures perfectly, giving them automatic authority and power without real leadership qualities. 

• Distributed Leadership

A distributed leadership style is one that promotes and encourages the idea of sharing different responsibilities. This method is all about delegating work and consulting with others for all major decisions. The leader efficiently and effectively entrusts employees with the full control of their tasks while asking for feedback for their work environment.  

• Laissez-faire Leadership

This type of leadership is less like a leadership role and more of a group contribution. This technique is not as common and less formal than most. The group is responsible for all decisions and are responsible for tasks that they want to take. Due to the fact that there is a lack of a formal leader role, a leader is nominated from the group, this is who they look towards for approval. 

• Paternalistic Leadership

This leadership technique is based on seniority. This means that a more senior figure is given the highest position based on either their age or the length of their work experience. The leader acts more as a parent role than anything, passing down different skills and knowledge to the employees in hopes one of them will become the leader after them. 

Based off of the different criteria that Gen Z and Millennials prioritize, the best type of leadership would be distributed or laissez-faire. It's what I, and probably current and future generations are looking for in the workplace. They provide the most flexibility for employees, as well as considers them in major decisions that allows them to feel more included at work. Those methods also show that the leaders value the employees thoughts and opinions, and are open to hearing new ideas. Whereas autocratic and bureaucratic leaderships are the types many companies have implemented today, and while it has taken our society far, it has lot its magic. Businesses need to start making the shift towards more inclusive, flexible working that provides purpose for their employees. Now that more and more Millennials and Gen Z are entering the workforce, they are expecting their concerns to be prioritized, and if they aren't, then they'll find somewhere else to work. Simple as that. 

References

Brown, A. (2022, April 6). Gen Z and millennials would rather be jobless than work for a company they don't like. workplace diversity and flexibility are also a must. Finurah. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://finurah.com/2022/04/06/gen-z-and-millennials-would-rather-be-jobless-than-work-for-a-company-they-dont-like-workplace-diversity-and-flexibility-are-also-a-must/

ISC Medical. (2019, April 2). What is your leadership style? the 5 types, characteristics & qualities. ISC Medical. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/blog/do-you-know-your-leadership-style-5-types-leadership-characteristics

Jahns, K. (2021, August 11). The environment is gen Z's no. 1 concern – and some companies are taking advantage of that. CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/the-environment-is-gen-zs-no-1-concern-but-beware-of-greenwashing.html

O’Boyle, E. (2022, March 1). 4 things gen Z and millennials expect from their workplace. Gallup.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/336275/things-gen-millennials-expect-workplace.aspx#:~:text=Gen%20Z%20and%20younger%20millennials,their%20consumer%20and%20employment%20choices.