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October is considered the most productive month. We go from the summer slump to a fall focus! That means… Reflect, Recommit, and Reset!

Goodbye summer, hello Autumn (unless you’re like Meagan and live in the Arizona desert 🥵)! We’re getting excited for all things fall, the weather getting cooler, and the upcoming holidays. Those feelings are often accompanied by a sense of urgency to get things done before the end of the year. Lucky for us, Autumn comes with some added ambition. According to a study by Accountemps, 48% of professionals feel most productive in the fall! More specifically, research shares that October is our most productive month, followed by November and September. Maybe it’s those back-to-school vibes ingrained in us since childhood, the pumpkin spice lattes invigorating our senses, or the looming holiday deadlines that unite us in a common goal of “getting it all done,” but something about fall just makes us want to conquer the world.

Summer can be a whirlwind of vacations, extra family time, and late nights. On the other hand, fall invites a sense of structure and balance, which can do wonders for our productivity. Research in psychology shows that people are more likely to commit to change when they perceive the start of a new season as an opportunity to reset and renew. 

You might be thinking, “Meagan, how does this relate to generations?” Well, here’s the thing: while each generation may have its unique quirks and preferences (like Boomers and their love for fax machines, or Gen Z and their obsession with all things digital), we all share the desire to achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact. And fall, with its inherent focus on productivity and self-improvement, provides the perfect opportunity for us to come together, ditch the stereotypes, and support each other. Think about it: instead of revisiting the tired old narratives about “lazy Millennials” or “tech-challenged Boomers,” let’s use this fall season to be curious and connect. 

Reflect and Reassess 

Before you start getting ahead and planning for 2025, make time to reflect on 2024. Some questions to consider:

• What goals have I achieved? 
• What was my biggest success so far? 
• What didn’t go as planned? 
• What do I need to do more of? Or less of? 
• What have I learned about myself? 

Reflect on your accomplishments that truly made a difference this year. Don’t be shy about celebrating those wins – you earned them! Once you’ve celebrated, turn your attention to those areas where things didn’t quite go according to plan. Instead of beating yourself up about it, approach those areas with empathy and understanding. By embracing our mistakes with kindness, we can become aware of the valuable lessons and reassess as needed. 

Recommit and Refresh

Fall is the perfect time to shake things up, try something new, and inject some fresh energy into your routine. Here are a few ideas:

• Embrace the New: Consider taking on a new challenge or hobby. Spend more time in nature, join a book club, or channel your inner artist with painting! Maybe paint in nature? A study published online on Sept. 11, 2023, by Nature Medicine suggests that having a hobby is good for your health, mood, and more.
• Career Glow-Up: Feeling an urge for change? Explore new opportunities within your company, revamp your LinkedIn profile (because let’s be real, that’s the new resume), or network with people in your industry. Fall is a prime time for conferences and workshops, so get out there and make those connections!
• Find Your Tribe: Connect with people from different generations, both personally and professionally. You might be surprised at how much you can learn from each other.
• Refresh Your Routine: Summer can be a bit chaotic, so fall is the ideal opportunity to re-establish healthy habits. Get back into a consistent workout routine, prioritize sleep, and nourish your body with delicious, seasonal foods. (Sadly, pumpkin spice lattes don’t count as a superfood…I checked) 
• Mindful Moments: Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment — free from distraction or judgment, and aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. Although mindfulness and meditation share commonalities, mindfulness is more of a way of living and a continuous reminder to be in the present moment. 

Reset and Renew (aka Time for Some Serious Self-Care)

A personal reset is about consciously pausing and reassessing different areas of your life. It involves looking at various elements such as your mental health, physical wellness, social connections, and personal hobbies. It’s about finding harmony and alignment in these areas to create a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Let’s not forget that fall is also a time for cozy vibes and prioritizing your well-being. Embrace the shorter days and cooler weather by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at home and at work. Light some scented candles, curl up with a good book, and allow yourself to recharge. Instead of aiming for grand resolutions, consider setting intentions that align with the spirit of fall—letting go, saying goodbye to what no longer serves you, and welcoming new possibilities. In any season, it’s important to take care of the person who you spend the most time with (yourself). Embrace the extra energy, set intentions, ditch the stereotypes, and ask for support when you need it. And hey, don’t forget to treat yourself to a pumpkin spice latte (or three) along the way. You deserve it! 🧡

Generation Z and Leadership is an important topic to discuss, as Generation Z is the first generation to grow up in the Smart Phone era.

How will educators, managers, and leaders adapt their communication styles to connect with the younger generation?

I was interviewing Dr. Elizabeth Pogge while preparing for my upcoming virtual presentation for a national preceptors pharmacy conference. A preceptor is a teacher or an instructor.

Dr. Elizabeth Pogge is also a gen Xer, like me. She pointed out how being a preceptor has changed and how the new learner, Generation Z, and Leadership has changed.

Dr. Elizabeth Pogge stated:

“When I was a resident and a student, one of the learning methods was the no intimidation type of learning tactic. You would stand up and you give a presentation. Your preceptor then would grill you. They’ll ask you all these questions. Students today do not respond well to that. They will shut down, get very upset, even angry. They feel like they’re getting attacked. That kind of a learning tactic doesn’t work well for students now. Being harsh or abrasive is very difficult for students to handle now. They need to be nurtured right now.”

During my interview with her, she shed some light on what it’s like to be a preceptor. What I loved the most was that she compared her experience as a student to the students of today. When she was a student, you stood up in front of the room, gave a presentation and your preceptor peppered you with questions. She called it ‘an intimidation technique’. You didn’t want to fail for fear of the reprisal from the preceptor.

She made the point that the approach would not work with students today, because they would shut down, get angry, and disconnect.

Generation Z

When we talk about students of today, we’re really talking about the Generation Z. These are people born between 1997 and 2012. This generation is nothing like the millennials! It’s an entirely different generation.

The biggest difference is that Generation Z is the first generation to truly grow up in the smartphone era. Yes, millennials had smartphones too. In fact, they showed us how to use our smartphones. But millennials may also remember things like DVD players, dial-up, etc.

Generation Z grew up in the smartphone era. They may have never held a textbook. They had streaming services, so they never had to wait for a DVD at a Blockbuster. Many of them grew up with a smart home.

How Does This Impact You as a Leader or as a Manager?

When Generation Z comes on board, you no longer are the assumed expert. It’s no longer the assumption that just because you’re the manager, my preceptor, my teacher, my instructor, or my supervisor, that does not mean you are necessarily the expert.

Generation Z and Leadership has changed.

Who’s the expert?

The internet.

This is the first generation to truly perceive the internet as an expert. Does that mean you can’t tell a Generation Z what to do? Of course, you can. All of us need to be told what to do, especially when we’re doing something we’ve never done before. Millennials told us what to do when we were trying to figure out our smartphones.

How to Lead Generation Z

There are some situations where we do tell people what to do, especially if they have never done it before. But when it comes to moving beyond those basic skills, it becomes more of a coaching exercise with Generation Z, versus a telling exercise. This means that you’re going to put a priority over inquisitiveness and curiosity, versus telling someone.

The second thing you want to do is give timely feedback. For Generation Z that timely feedback is vital. so for example we’ll go back to the preceptor examples Dr. Pogge said: “My students know that as soon as our rounds are done, I’m going to give them feedback. I’ve told them that from the beginning, so they will be expecting it!“

Do You Have to Coddle Generation Z?

Not at all! It is the end goal that we help people develop to be the best that they can be. To come to work prepared and ready. If we have to change our approach to make that successful, why is that mad?

Next week, we’ll continue to investigate the incredible generations we work with, live with, interact with and talk to every day.