One commonality of Gen Zers is that our lives are defined in terms of eras (no, not those eras). From “post-9/11” to “mid-recession” to “pre-social media.” Our generation has been affected by foggy memories of events beyond our control.

The “post-COVID” era continues, especially in the 9-to-5 work structure and its ever-evolving definition. For those of us who had one in-person internship and semesters of Zoom classes, learning unspoken office politics feels like using a fax machine: I recognize it but never used it, and managers giggle when I say it's foreign tech. The virtual road to graduation didn’t prepare us enough for the corporate world.

But after a few years in advertising, I know advertising was, and is, a “human” industry. We discover what makes people tick and turn those insights into art that motivates action. The better we understand humans, the better results we get. And the place we do that best is within our agency’s walls. 

As a “post-COVID” observer, here are some insights I value and hope will continue to define this new normal in the workplace, keeping the “human” in this human industry.

#NoFilter

Gen Zers love to overshare. Some might say we’ve lost necessary filters. I think it creates an impassioned type of connection.

I’m not requesting managers to reveal every detail of their weekend escapades, but sharing glimpses of your personal life can help us connect on a human level and create genuine partnerships. Open dialogue is the gateway to growth. Your hobbies make you multifaceted. Your mistakes taught you life’s lessons. A brief insight into who you are outside the office will enhance your leadership within it. You are human; let that shine. 

The habit of saying hello 

March 11, 2020, the day the World Health Organization declared a COVID-19 pandemic, was when everyone’s routine went rogue and the “new normal” took over. As society recovers, it’s important to establish moments to connect and spend time with each other.

That’s why I appreciate my agency’s weekly all-agency meetings. For those unaccustomed to this frequency, it can feel like a lot. In my opinion, it helps ground the agency by dedicating an hour each week to share news, celebrate each other and just see each other’s faces. It motivates everyone before the busy week, creating regular opportunities for human connection to build more meaningful relationships. 

Being productive is overrated

Companies are working to make the most of both time and space by bringing talent back to the office. While we truly appreciate the efforts being made to create an ideal work environment, it's important to acknowledge—and hopefully embrace—that the primary purpose of being in the office isn’t necessarily just to focus on getting work done. 

The key aspect of being at the office is the micro-moments of engagement. It’s the accidental two-hour lunch with your manager. It’s the coffee run that sparks a creative idea or stopping by someone’s desk and discovering a microtrend from their niche monitor screensaver. It’s the jolts of randomness that fuel progress and creativity. If what they say is true—that being in the office fosters community and camaraderie— it must happen not just at your desk but in the kitchen and on your way out the door.

We work in a human industry, and the most human thing to do—and perhaps the most effective advertising approach—is to keep forging your path while uplifting those around you to follow. Gen Z has a lot to prove, but throughout every era of our lives, we have emerged stronger and smarter. So, listen and learn from Gen Z, and allow us to prove ourselves in this new normal that we’re living in. Because that’s exactly what being human is all about.