Cloud Generation vs. Generation Z

The name, “Generation Z,” needs a makeover — it lacks the symbolism and stroke to effectively communicate the impact that this post-Millennial generation will have on the future workforce. Loosely defined as those born since 2001, I call this post-Millennial generation The Cloud Generation.  The “cloud” refers to software and services that run on the internet instead of your computer. This “plugged-in” Cloud Generation is becoming identified as a tribe that manifests a boundary-less, cloud-like orientation to information, group and team membership, and most of life’s activities.

Cloud Gen–being raised on a diet of internet-enabled connections, tools, and visually sophisticated virtual games—are surely going to bring these new talents, biases and expectations to their workplace interactions and communications, both enhancing our collective capacity and stressing our current standards and skill sets. When discussing what we anticipate will be the Cloud Generation workforce, the question is “how and how fast” rather than “who or why.”

Accustomed to a constantly changing digital landscape, they are growing up confident that they can acquire an answer to any and every question with the click of a Google search. Keep in mind that a generation raised on instant access to communication, entertainment and information likely won’t be known for its patience. This group’s expectation of immediacy doesn’t stop with their personal lives; it will extend to the workplace as well.  Cloud Gen is just now beginning to show up in business environments, mostly in the service sector. Therefore, to make predictions of their organizational impact is premature. Only time and the continually developing collection of cultural influences will tell how they show up as first line supervisors and managers.

Cloud Gen is coming of age in the time of crowdsourcing, in which large groups of people are entrusted to provide solutions more effectively and immediately than any individual could. This is why it is natural for this generation to gather as much information as possible before making decisions. Cloud Gen often have enough social media connections to fill a stadium but may well learn that to advance in the professional realm, they need help to network the old-fashioned way: in person.

Hile Rutledge and I have just finished our new book called, “Generation Translation: Skills for Bridging the Gap.” We look forward to offering it to you for sale by mid-November. Contact us today to pre-order. You need to get ready because the “the sky’s the limit” with Cloud Gen. 😉