Generation Z, often referred to as digital natives, recently came to prominence in Kenya when they took to the streets to protest the Finance Bill 2024.
This demographic has been challenging authorities worldwide, and their emerging role in society is now being recognised globally.
Both Gen Z and millennials are upsetting the status quo, and increasing evidence shows that their demands are often met with indifference, sometimes leading to unfortunate deaths or severe punishment.
In an article published by The Harvard Gazette in 2023 titled Rising Political Tide of Young Adults, it was noted that two Black state Democratic lawmakers, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled by the predominantly white Tennessee House for rallying support of stricter gun controls following a school shooting.
This incident fuelled backlash and highlighted the political potency of Gen Z. This generation has become increasingly engaged in issues such as gun control, environmental concerns, and racial justice.
During the recent French elections, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally won more than 32 percent of the vote in the first round.
However, Gen Z and millennials played a critical role in the second round, helping to stop the far-right movement.
Similarly, in the European Union polls, they turned out in large numbers to prevent a far-right surge, as reported by Lucas Robinson in last weeks’ Time Magazine.
However, he warns that this might not be the same in five years.
In Germany, the extremist right Alternative for Germany (AfD) tripled its support among 16-to-24-year-olds from five percent in 2019 to 16 percent today.
Currently, in Bangladesh, Gen Z and millennials are protesting against quotas for government jobs.
The government's response to shut down mobile internet communication has worsened the situation, leading to looting and destruction of infrastructure.
Young people, using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), have managed to hack into key government offices, practically taking control of some State institutions.
One of the challenges facing leaders worldwide in the 21st century is how to manage and motivate the emerging generation of digital natives, who have grown up with technology and social media as integral parts of their lives.
Several studies show that digital natives are characterised by their ability to multitask, communicate, collaborate, and learn online, as well as their preference for autonomy, creativity, and feedback.
They are also more likely to challenge authority, question norms, and seek meaningful work that aligns with their values and passions.
These traits pose both opportunities and threats for leaders who wish to harness the potential of digital natives and foster a culture of innovation and agility in their organisations.
On one hand, digital natives can bring fresh perspectives, diverse skills, and entrepreneurial spirit to the workplace and can be highly adaptable and resilient in the face of change.
On the other hand, digital natives can also be impatient, demanding, and disloyal, and may resist traditional forms of hierarchy, control, and direction.
This calls for leaders to rethink their leadership style and adopt new strategies and practices that can empower and engage digital natives while also ensuring alignment, accountability, and performance.
One possible approach is to adopt a self-organising leadership model, which is based on the principles of complexity science and systems thinking and emphasises the emergence of order and creativity from the interactions and dynamics of the system, rather than the imposition of rules and plans from the top.
The implication of this phenomenon is that leaders need to understand and leverage the power of networks, both within and outside their organizations.
Networks are the structures and patterns of relationships that enable the flow of information, resources, and influence among individuals and groups.
Networks can also be seen as the collective intelligence and creativity of a system, which can be harnessed for innovation and problem-solving.
Leaders can use network analysis tools and methods to map and measure the networks of digital natives and identify the key actors, roles, and positions that shape the network's dynamics and performance.
To effectively lead and collaborate with digital natives, leaders need to develop new competencies and capabilities, such as cross-cultural and cross-generational communication, digital literacy and fluency, network thinking and analysis, and self-organising leadership.
The writer is Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Mission to the European Union, Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States and World Customs Organisation.
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