How Parenting Skills Can Transform the Way We Engage Gen Z in the Workplace

As a parent and an entrepreneur, I’ve often reflected on the powerful parallels between raising children and building businesses. Parenting taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of guidance and mentorship—values that are just as critical in today’s business environment, especially when it comes to engaging the rising generation of Gen Z workers.

Gen Z is now a significant part of the workforce, yet companies are grappling with high turnover and engagement challenges. Reports show that many Gen Z employees are leaving jobs within months, often feeling unprepared or misunderstood. This new reality, however, presents an opportunity to bridge generational divides using the same skills we develop as parents.

Here’s how parenting skills translate seamlessly into creating an environment where Gen Z employees can thrive:

1. Guiding, Not Micromanaging

Parenting and managing young talent both require balancing oversight with independence. As with parenting, the goal is to help Gen Z employees feel capable and trusted to explore solutions on their own. The workplace, like home, should be a place for learning—an environment where mistakes are met with guidance rather than reprimand.

2. Patience and Persistence

Just as children learn at their own pace, Gen Z employees are navigating a complex world of remote work, hybrid teams, and rapid change. Many HR departments and managers underestimate the time and patience required to onboard and truly integrate Gen Z into their teams. A little patience, as we know from parenting, goes a long way in fostering a supportive atmosphere.

3. Purpose-Driven Approach

In a household, we aim to instill values that guide our children’s decisions. Similarly, in a corporate setting, Gen Z workers are motivated by purpose. They seek roles that resonate with their values and allow them to contribute meaningfully. Companies that can articulate a clear purpose and link everyday tasks to that larger mission are better positioned to retain and engage this generation.

4. Encouraging Innovation and Asking for Input

With Gen Z, as with children, great ideas often come from unexpected places. By giving Gen Z employees space to share ideas and experiment, we can tap into their natural creativity. They bring a fresh perspective that, if nurtured, can lead to innovative solutions and a more dynamic work environment.

As Gen Z continues to enter the workforce in record numbers, we’re seeing a powerful reminder: just as we need intentional guidance and support at home, our youngest employees benefit immensely from workplaces that embrace mentorship, patience, and purpose. The way forward isn’t about changing Gen Z to fit our existing molds—it’s about adapting our systems to meet them where they are and channeling their unique strengths toward meaningful impact.