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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 57 IS YOUR BUSINESS MANAGING GEN ZERS EFFECTIVELY? FIND OUT BY TAKING THIS QUIZ. Score 10 points for each "yes" answer. Then, total your score, and check your rating at the bottom. 1. Does your company present a healthy work environment on social media? 2. Do you emphasize stability in your work positions? 3. Do you provide career support to employees? 4. Are you transparent about positive and negative work factors? 5. Does your company exhibit a commitment to social justice and multiculturalism? 6. Do you encourage Gen Zers to speak up about their ideas for improving operations? 7. Do you allow some autonomy in how work is accomplished? 8. Do you identify peers who can effectively pass along expertise to Gen Zers? 9. Do you help Gen Zers improve their one-on-one communications skills? 10. Do you couch your business operations in terms of a larger social purpose? WHAT'S YOUR SCORE? 80 or more: Congratulations. You are creating a productive environment for effective management of Gen Zers. Between 60 and 79: It's time to improve your interactions with young workers. Less than 60: Your business is at risk. Act on the suggestions in this article. QUIZ: ARE YOU READY FOR GEN Z? Also, Gen Zers tend to eschew reading and have short attention spans. at can make instruction manuals ineff ective. "Instead, provide short bits of training via videos that last only two to three minutes," Gibbs advises. "Provide bite-sized infotainment to help drown out other distractions such as social media." Gen Zer's penchant for technology can also make them loners. at can be problematic in a workplace where one-on-one interactions are required. "Gen Zers tend to be individualistic and would rather communicate through technology than face to face," Ginder shares. "But that's not how small businesses typically work. Most things happen within some level of teamwork." is is where managers can experience a lot of frustration and the new generation will need some assistance. "It's important to help Gen Zers build their personal skills," Ginder says. " ey will require a lot of coaching about company expectations, such as when it's appropriate to be on their phones or to take a break to chat with someone." MAKING IT WORK Managed correctly, Gen Zers can have a positive impact on businesses. " ey have a lot going for them," says Ginder. " ey're often more educated and more diverse than previous generations, which tells us a lot about how we can tailor the way we work with them." Even if older generations struggle with dealing eff ectively with these workers, the results can be worth the eff ort. " ere is much upside to learning how to adjust one's management practices to maximize the potential of Gen Zers," Ginder concludes. " ere's so much there, and using the right framework and approach, the sky's the limit." Phillip M. Perry has published widely in the business management press. Contact him at linkedin.com/in/phillipmperry.

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