One Stunning Data Point Explains the ‘Gen Z Stare’—and Why it’s Going to Backfire on Them.
By Suzy Welch
If you’ve worked with Gen Z — or managed them — you’ve probably seen it: that facial expression that somehow manages to mix disdain, defiance, and utter disinterest all in one (oddly) blank look.
It’s been dubbed the “Gen Z stare,” and it’s the facial equivalent of an eye-roll. Managers everywhere are letting out a sigh of relief because, finally, there’s a name for the behavior that’s left them scratching their heads since “quiet quitting” became a badge of honor during the pandemic.
I’ve been studying intergenerational dynamics in the workplace for years as the director of the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, and even among academics (who tend to avoid stereotyping generations), there’s an unspoken consensus: Older managers find Gen Z ... well, frustrating.
Read the full CNBC article.
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Suzy Welch is Professor of Management Practice at NYU Stern.