So obviously, Gen Z wants to free me from what I know and love.
According to a 2020 study from the consulting firm Creative Strategies, there's a generational gap in work tools.
The survey found that for those 30 and above, email was among the top tools they used for collaboration.
For those under 30, Google Docs was the app workers associated most with collaboration, followed by Zoom and iMessage.
Plus, Gen Z sees email as a life stressor.
At any given time, going into one's email inbox is a crackerjack box, but without the cheap prize and caramel popcorn goodness.
An email inbox at any given time can be home to important work stuff, an invite to attend your uncle's retirement party, and a reminder to renew Netflix.
You can see why Gen Z wants to free me from email.
In a recent survey by Deloitte, 46 percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling stressed all or most of the time in 2020, and 35 percent said they had taken time off work because of stress and anxiety.
CEOs will need to do a better job helping Gen Z manage email and various communications tools.
With the rise of one-stop, do everything super apps, this will be a challenge.
But seeing any communication tool as just that - a tool, coupled with recognizing that some tools are better for a specific job that needs to get done, will be essential for business productivity.
I recommend a twice-a-year communications tool audit to discuss with your core team to ensure everyone is using the best tool for the job and not fostering stress and less productivity.
