Avoid Perpetual Generational Conflict

In 2035, Generation Z—people born between 1997 and 2012—is poised to comprise the majority of the global workforce at 31 percent, according to research firm McCrindle. That may present interrelational problems, as 40 percent of 1,500 US employees surveyed by Newsweek said Gen Z is the most challenging generation to work with and 36 percent of respondents state those workers are also the most difficult to manage.

Gen Z agrees. Forty percent confirmed their status as the most taxing to work with and 33 percent of those in that age bracket said their peers are the worst managers.

Amy Gallo, workplace dynamics expert and author of Getting Along: How to Work With Anyone (Even Difficult People), spoke to Forbes about overcoming workplace personality issues. Gallo notes that to build relationships at work, individuals must give themselves mental space and take care of basic needs (such as getting enough sleep and properly hydrating).

Then, Gallo advises, people should adopt a curious mindset to explore what they may not know about a difficult workplace situation and the role they may have played in the conflict.

When adopting a curious mindset about Gen Zers, take their defining traits, listed by McCrindle, into account.

• Digital. Gen Zers are digital integrators. They have grown up with technology that older generations had to learn later in life.

• Global. Because of technology, Gen Z is the first generation to be fully global, including fashion, food, and social trends.

• Social. Social media platforms make Gen Zers more connected to their peers than any previous generation.

• Mobile. This pertains both to mobile technology and to Gen Zers' habit of frequently moving homes, jobs, and industries.

• Visual. Gen Zers watch videos every day. They would rather watch a video summarizing an issue than read an article explaining it.