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Paul Welty, PhD AI, WORK, AND STAYING HUMAN

· professional-skills

Bookmark: 5 reasons why ‘gen z’ is struggling in the workplace— by a psychologist

Explore the key challenges Gen Z faces in the workplace and discover how managers can adapt to support their unique needs for success.

The article examines the difficulties Gen Z faces as it enters the workforce, attributing these challenges to diverse factors such as emotional awareness, communication styles, feedback expectations, value alignment, and unmet workplace expectations. It highlights the complexity of balancing empathy with professionalism, emphasizing the need for managerial adaptation to these new communicative and value-driven dynamics. Surveys indicate high levels of burnout and job satisfaction issues among Gen Z, underscoring the disparity between their expectations and workplace realities. Despite their tech-savvy nature, Gen Z still grapples with soft skills, requiring patient mentorship in adapting to work environments. The article suggests that fostering a culture of open communication and feedback can help bridge generational gaps, with managers playing a crucial role in facilitating this transition by actively listening and recognizing Gen Z’s contributions. This aligns with the view that embracing continuous learning and adaptability is essential in today’s evolving workplace. Balancing Gen Z’s unique approach with strategic managerial support could harness their potential, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits all.

5 Reasons Why ‘Gen Z’ Is Struggling In The Workplace—By A Psychologist

The agent-shaped org chart

Every real org has the same topology: principal, role-holder, specialists. Staff AI maps onto it, node for node, and the cost collapse shows up in the deliverables that were always just human-handoff overhead.

AI as staff, not software

Two frames for what AI is doing to work. The tool frame makes tools smarter. The staff frame makes roles unnecessary. Those aren't the same product, the same company, or the same industry.

Knowledge work was never work

Knowledge work was always coordination between humans who couldn't share state directly. The artifacts were never the work. They were the overhead — and AI just made the overhead optional.

The work of being available now

A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.

The practice of work in progress

Practical essays on how work actually gets done.

How do I get my dev team to adopt AI?

A stub on helping mixed-interest development teams find their own useful ways into AI.

Want to learn about agents? Talk to someone who ran an agency.

I spent 20 years running consulting engagements at Fortune 500 companies. Turns out that's the best preparation for running a fleet of AI agents ... because the problems are identical.

Your AI agents need a water cooler

We run a twelve-session AI fleet that coordinates through an IRC breakroom. A friend asked: why are you making AI agents act like humans? The answer turned out to be more interesting than the question.

Bookmark: Gen z workers think showing up 10 minutes late to work is as good as being on time

Explore the clash between Baby Boomers and Gen Z over punctuality in the workplace, revealing how attitudes towards time impact productivity and collaboration.

Bookmark: A psychologist explains what gen z should be striving for at work (hint: Not happiness)

Gen Z should prioritize workplace engagement over fleeting happiness to achieve lasting career fulfillment and drive organizational success.

Bookmark: Gen zers are being branded as unemployable. Here’s what they can learn from the top 1% of applicants

Gen Z can boost their employability by learning from the top 1% of candidates. Discover key strategies for success in a challenging job market.