It has been said over and over, Gen Z and Millennial's all have different expectations when it comes to employment. During several different positions in my career I have had the opportunity to hire for a variety of roles and even sifting through resumes these values can be seen even in the applicant's profile. There are always two sides to a coin and some may believe we shouldn't "bend down" to what these applicants are looking for, but what if as leaders in a company, we changed the way we thought. Looking at this change as an opportunity to grow, learn, and choose to see the positive change that can happen within the company. It isn't all bad as many will say.

What is our role as mentors, leaders and being part of a growing company? How do we foster these expectations, wants and needs, as we choose to hire for open positions. I believe our role as mentors and leaders is to remember it is not only a one way street, but it is a two way street where one can learn from both partners. Be open to change, embrace the new desire's but most important, make sure as a leader you are exemplifying what the company believes in. If a company believes in a work/life balance, for example, as a leader/mentor to an employee hold true to those beliefs and fight for your team member.

There are endless expectations that I have read over the past years, but the 5 below are the ones I think stand out and are most important to remember.

1. Don't live to work - Our world revolves around our passions, hobbies, and life outside of work. Inspiration can and will most likely happen when you're not in front of a computer.
2. Respect our work boundaries - Morning walks, lunch breaks, PTO, weekends, and evenings. Create space to decompress, one can't be on 100 all the time and be effective. Hold your team to PTO (and truly be off so employees can come back and be 100% more effective)
3. Pay - This one is so simple, yet so many companies get it so wrong. Everyone's salary should be transparent from the start. I am a firm believer in showing this up front. Many companies are starting to share this on the open position. Let's look at it this way, not only are you as a company are being truthful, but both parties time is respected. It is a mutual decision when a position is being filled. Both parties should be interested in making the best fit for the growth and success of not only the business but the employee.
4. Authentic - It gives energy and brings life to the work they do. It is exhausting to not be yourself. It will drain your employees more if they can not be themselves. Allow authentic transparent conversations as employees will learn and grow as will the company.
5. Accept our preferred working environment - Not everyone thrives the same way. We should be offering options. Some prefer to work alone, some prefer to work in a space with more people. We should not require everyone to fit into the same box, that will not drive productivity and creativity. Now that people are remote, offer the option to come to corporate or meeting regionally. There are other ways to collaborate and have a variety built into the budget to help extend growth personally for the employee and for the growth of the company. In the end it is about meeting in the middle, changing out mindset to accept change where we can and are able to and watching the fruit of our labor grow and blossom.