There's a subtle leadership switch, and Gen Z's at the forefront. If you think that being grandiose with a big title, a flashy lifestyle, or "look at me" leadership will make them loyal, you're wrong.
They're super smart, emotionally aware, and not afraid to call out what isn't genuine.
In 2025, not only is it an excellent idea to lead with modesty and integrity. It's the only method for creating trust that lasts.
You can share inspirational quotes all day long or brag about your work ethic, but if your behavior isn't consistent with your message, Gen Z will ghost you. They're not interested in the staged persona. They need the truth, even if it's complicated.
This is the generation that grew up with influencers arriving and departing on the whim of one mistake. They've witnessed the behind-the-scenes, and that has shaped the way they respond to leadership. They crave raw honesty over greasy spin and are attracted to leaders who take responsibility for errors, question everything, and just show up like actual human beings. They don't expect perfection. But they do expect honesty.
Those "because I said so" management days are over. Gen Z will not respond to ego authority. They expect leaders to collaborate, not order them around. When they question things, they're not attempting to argue. They merely want to understand why the work matters.
And sure enough, leadership coach Julie Zhuo writes about how the most effective leaders lead by questioning, rather than commanding. Gen Z doesn't want to be controlled. They want to be guided.
So if your team looks checked out, maybe it's not about work ethic at all. Maybe it's about how they're being led.
One of the easiest ways to lose this generation's respect? Tell them something, then do another thing. Gen Z is watching the way you treat individuals, how you act under pressure, and how you handle failure. That's what earns their loyalty. The best news? You don't need to know everything. You simply need to be open to saying, "I don't know, let's figure it out together."
If you're still using a top-down approach to leadership, it might be time to change. Start small. Listen more. Ask better questions. Demonstrate what you want to see. You'll be surprised how quickly trust will result.
It is not just a fad of leadership. It's affecting recruitment, retention, and advocacy. Organizations that do not accept this kind of connection will keep wondering why best-in-class talent are leaving. Especially in human-driven industries like real estate, education, and digital marketing. If you have a team, you're also defining culture. And in 2025, culture counts.
According to LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report, Gen Z values community, empathy, and open opportunity for growth. It is not a catalog of empty rhetoric and hard-and-fast principles.
It does not require you to be the loudest in the room. You just have to be the one whom they trust.
Gen Z is not here for pretentious leaders, empty promises, and inflated egos. They're dedicated to the leaders who are actually with them, remain humble, and create room for others at the table. It is not about being a trendsetter or changing your personality. It is about leading as a human being. No scripts, no performances, just plain, honest conversation and steady action.
If you’re building something that matters in 2025, this generation is watching. And they’ll follow your lead, but only if it’s real.
