Gen Z is becoming the boss, and the way they communicate with their subordinates proves they’ve thrown out the baby boomer rulebook.
A video of Gen Z retail manager Theodore sharing casual text messages he sends to his staff is currently gaining traction online.
He explained that the way he communicates with people on his team stems from a desire to behave differently than previous managers.
Traditionally, communication with superiors has often been formal, especially when done in writing.
Phrases like “I’ll get back to that later” and “Thank you for that feedback” are often used religiously. The wording of your messages can feel comically different than when speaking to friends and family.
Corporate terminology is often discussed and ridiculed online, and a recent post by Brooklyn Nash, a marketing executive at Xby, went viral in which she criticized how work terminology usually has double meanings.
He claimed that if someone wrote “according to my last email,” it meant “fk you.” If someone writes “Sorry I’m late,” it means “fk me,” and if someone writes “CC’ing in for publication,” it means “you f-ked.”
The post was meant to be a joke, but it resonated so well that it has been viewed more than 11 million times, giving a more complex and double meaning to the glamorous work language made famous by Boomer and Gen Y bosses. It proves that it’s possible.
Theodore decided to take a more direct approach.
His communication style is much less formal, but his employees certainly aren’t left trying to figure out what his “as per last request” message means.
For example, a staff member messaged me asking if she could leave work early because she needed to feed the horses.
While quitting a job at the perfect time is a niche reason, Theodore said he’s fine with it, as long as employees send him “cute” pictures of horses.
Similarly, when a staff member emailed him to ask him not to put back a black bag he was planning to purchase in-store, Theodore happily ignored the staff’s no-hold policy and replied, “I love it!”
When a staff member messaged him that he would be late for work, Gen Zer brushed aside the reprimand and told them to come and “rescue” him as soon as possible.
Theodore’s casual response may send a shiver down the spine of anyone accustomed to corporate jargon and formal work language, but he believes it is highly effective.
Mr. Theodore actually spoke negatively about his staff when someone online said that because of his casual attitude toward them, he would have a hard time “disciplining” them when needed. He said he “rarely” needs to give specific feedback.
“I rarely have to because they trust me and come to me with problems before they get there,” he said.
He added that there is no “us vs. us” mentality. He said he feels they have a mindset when it comes to management and he and his staff are all in it “together.”
However, online, most of the feedback from people was praising Theodore’s friendly management style.
One person wrote that he doesn’t just manage the team, he shows kindness – he’s a leader.
Another said Theodore’s message shows that if you treat your staff well, they will do “anything” for you.
One person said seeing these messages was “awesome” and said it made them excited to see the next generation managing people.
Another said this kind of message is exactly “what we need to see more of” and that administrators should act like humans and not “robots”.
Global Head of Human Resources employment hero Kate Joly said that although Gen Z bosses work differently, they are “important” team members.
“These young leaders are ambitious and have a deep understanding of how to leverage technology to get the best results without being stuck in traditional ways of working,” she said.
Jolie said Gen Z makes a good impression on her at work because they are always switched on.
“They take full advantage of today’s technology, social trends, and remote-first approaches to ensure their teams have everything they need to succeed. “I am continually impressed and inspired by his approach and accomplishments,” she said.
