8 Soft Skills Gen Z Needs To Develop For The Workplace

Generation Z has a lot to offer.

Gen Z is quickly becoming known as a resourceful generation that has challenged onsite work, the chain of command, low pay, and other controversial aspects of the workplace.

Like any generation, there are still things that this tech-savvy group has to learn, like soft skills. Soft skills are non-technical competencies you develop through life and work experience.

By developing eight key soft skills, members of Gen Z can thrive in the workplace.

1. Monotasking

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z has come of age during an era marked by multitasking. Although multitasking—performing multiple duties at once—has long been considered a desirable skill in the workplace, an analysis by Madore and Wagner suggests that you could be overworking your mind and decreasing the quality of your work by multitasking.

An alternative to multitasking is monotasking. You can monotask by scheduling two to three-hour focus periods each work shift. During this time, work in a quiet space without distractions and complete one task at a time. Depending on the unique demands of your job, you may need to alter the length or purpose of your focus period. As you hone this skill, you can become a more focused and productive team member.

2. Oral communication

Collectively, Gen Z has a lot to say. You may be sharing it through TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where the Morning Consult reports Gen Zers spend most of their time online. Speaking on video is a good way to practice oral communication. However, talking directly to someone face-to-face or on the phone can help you grow into an articulate speaker who can deliver presentations, contribute to meetings, and communicate with clients.

In addition to having more interpersonal conversations, you can improve oral communication by listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and TED Talks, which are speeches from experts in different fields.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed. 

3. Business writing

You may already be writing your thoughts on personal matters, politics, and workplace issues online but writing a professional email that conveys your point requires a different skill.

You can improve your business writing by considering three points:

• Know your goal. Decide what you’re trying to achieve, then craft a message around that.

• Aim for clarity. Minimize your use of colloquialisms, eliminate text talk, and use industry jargon sparingly.

• Understand your audience. Whether you are contacting a coworker, client or company leader, use a professional tone to send a clear, relevant message.

Enhance your business writing by exploring online courses through Udemy, LinkedIn Learning or Coursera. You can use these courses to learn how to write business emails, letters, and reports.

4. Confident decision-making

At work, you have to make big and small decisions every day. According to the American Student Association, Gen Z often relies on social media and other sources to make decisions.

Getting a consensus from your online and offline communities can be helpful but using your thoughts and experiences means you can make confident decisions faster and more efficiently.

Improve your confident decision-making by giving yourself a deadline, weighing the pros and cons and developing a firm response. Use these steps to help you decide on work issues, such as how to respond to a customer or when it’s time to consult HR about resolving an issue.

5. Stress management

According to a study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation—a charitable institution that supports youth—less than 50% of Gen Zers report having “good” or “excellent” mental health, citing stress and anxiety.

If your job consistently makes you feel stressed or anxious, you may need to explore other job opportunities. However, if you find yourself grappling with job requirements that are fair and reasonable, practice managing your stress. Through stress management, you can create a safe, calming space for yourself. To find what works for you, try a few different things, such as:

• Taking breaks from social media

• Exercising by walking, swimming, or strength training

• Decluttering your home or workspace

The Global Wellness Institute provides informative research on other methods for managing stress, including art therapy, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. By determining which methods work for you, you can better manage your stress, improve your well-being and strengthen your overall job performance.

6. Negotiation

Negotiation is helpful any time you need to reach an agreement with someone—for example:

• Agreeing to your salary or hourly pay rate

• Arranging a meeting with a client or customer

• Working with your supervisor to change your schedule

In each of these cases, you must know how to achieve an outcome that works for everyone involved. Work with a friend, career coach or negotiation expert to practice presenting your opinion, listening to another person’s opinion, clarifying the most important points, and then negotiating a solution.

7. Active listening

Active listening enables you to hear what is being said rather than what you think is being said. As an active listener, you will make direct eye contact, allow the speaker to complete their thoughts and rephrase their words to ensure you understand them.

Every conversation you have at work is a new opportunity to practice active listening. Once it is time to respond, try to avoid getting distracted or making assumptions. Ask as many questions as you need to better understand what the speaker has said. Then, provide a thoughtful response that moves the conversation forward. Here’s an example of how an active listener might respond:

“Thank you for sharing that. What I hear you saying is that you want to work on a different part of the project—is that right?”

This is a brief way to affirm the other person and make sure you’ve interpreted their words correctly, which can reduce misunderstandings, promote dialogue and help the other person feel heard.

8. Evaluating criticism

Gen Z excels in calling out unfair hiring practices, poor leadership and criticism, but not all criticism is bad. Learn how to discern between constructive criticism and destructive criticism to create more positive workplace experiences.

If you receive feedback from a customer, coworker or manager, evaluate whether it is constructive or destructive by paying attention to the person’s delivery and reflecting on how the feedback makes you feel.

Here is an example of destructive feedback:

“Nakia, I found your marketing report to be sloppy and unprofessional. We cannot present this to a client and I want you to redo it! The content is unclear and the data you used is outdated.”

Here is an example of constructive feedback:

“Thank you for working on this, Nakia! You chose great data points to share. For revision 1, I would like you to focus on drawing from more recent data (going back five years or less). I would like the finished product to be clear and concise. You’re on the right track!”

The first example is curt and unhelpful while the second example has a positive tone and includes guidance on how to improve. Ultimately, your coworkers and peers should provide honest feedback but they should also be professional, respectful and encouraging. Know the difference so that you can use constructive feedback to improve your work and stop destructive feedback in its tracks.

I hope you find this article helpful.