Group aims to bridge communication gap with Gen-Z

Communication skills are considered to be among the most valued in the digital workplace, but scarcely seen in Generation Z, which is challenging the status quo in a number of ways.

The not-for-profit small and medium sized business-focused group, IceHouse, was dedicating an entire segment of its upcoming Ignite 2026 event on how to bridge the communication gap with Gen-Z - young adults born between 1997 and 2012.

Young Enterprise NZ interim co-chief executive Abbie McKoy, who will be taking part on a panel discussion with Gen-Zers who were already making their mark, said the key was to listen first and be authentic.

"I think about myself when I first started working, if my boss told me to do something, I was doing it. I was not going to question it. I'm doing it. This generation will push back," she said.

"I think for employers, they struggle with that because they're looking for that commitment."

However, she said Gen-Z had its own way of looking at time spent in work.

"For them, it's more of like, am I learning here? Am I growing here? Can I add value here? If those conditions aren't met, I think there's always new opportunities that they see and they can make happen."

Abbie McKoy said Gen-Zers will quickly move on from jobs that failed to recognise their strengths and give them room to develop.

"And in terms of like marketing and reaching them, it needs to feel real, and it needs to feel like a real connection."

She said Gen-Z had created networks of online, rather than in-person communities, which was another difference from older generations.

"For my generation (Millennial), we might pick up the phone and call a friend. For them, it's more of a text message," she said.

"But do not call them (Gen-Z) on the phone. Absolutely never call them on the phone. Make sure that you send a text first, at least, or schedule a coffee so that it feels more connected."

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