Why talking to strangers is crucial for Gen Z's success in the workplace

A question from an inspirational speaker on business leadership to a couples therapist and intimacy expert has got people talking, literally.

The question by the US author Simon Sinek to therapist Esther Perel was: "What is the number one relationship skill Gen Zs should master before starting their first job?"

Her answer was quick and simple: "Talk to strangers."

Essential job skill

Perel believes that talking to strangers isn't just good for life, it is also an essential job skill, particularly for Gen Zs whose lives have been hugely influenced by social media and the Covid-19 pandemic.

"When you spend all your time like this (as she looks down at a phone), you don't know who's around you, you don't talk to people on a plane, you don't talk to people in the queue, you don't talk to people while you wait for your coffee, you don't talk to strangers.

"And talking to strangers is improvisation, spontaneity, serendipity, surprise, novelty ... active involvement in the unknown, which is what trust is. Trust is active engagement with the unknown.

"If you don't know how to talk to strangers, you have less trust. Entering the workplace is talking to strangers.

"Any first job is a series of conversations with strangers without really knowing what they want from you, without knowing how they look at you. Find yourself in any job, you look around, it's like moving to another country."

Generational disconnect

Forbes magazine reports that the growing generational disconnect in the workplace unfairly casts Gen Zs as disengaged, disinterested or defiant, especially when it comes to the "Gen Z stare".

It quoted Vistage's chief research officer, Joe Galvin, as saying: “Similar to past trends such as "quiet quitting", the "Gen Z stare" is more than just a viral buzzword; it is not a new problem, but it is a pervasive one, highlighting a larger issue in today’s workplace: a growing generational disconnect in employee communication and expectations."

It reported that the Covid-19 pandemic and remote working replaced face-to-face interaction, leading many experts, including Perel, to believe that this deprived many Gen Zs of having normal social interactions, small talk or discussions with people they don't know.

Reconnecting

Perel believes connection is a fundamental human need that is vital for our overall well-being and longevity, and this lack of connection can be reversed by people actively involving themselves in talking to people around them.

She advocates talking to strangers because it helps combat loneliness and gives us a reminder that everything and everyone is interconnected, what she refers to as an interdependent system.

Perel believes this helps build relational intelligence through understanding and nurturing our connections, a crucial skill for successful relationships, including at work.

She stresses that there is nothing more powerful than in-person connection, where we can be "seen, heard, and held".

It also builds relational intelligence through our understanding and nurturing of these connections, a crucial skill for all our relationships.

Experts believe that leaders in the workplace have a role to play in fostering better communication with staff by examining whether their cues to evaluate engagement are possibly outdated.

Employers should also encourage face-to-face interactions, carry out well-being check-ins and promote authentic dialogue to build trust and connection.