Efetividade da liderança : o comportamento esperado pela Geração Z

Abstract

Generation Z comprises young people born between 1995 and 2010. They hold values and expectations that differ from those of previous generations and are known for being authentic in their views and behaviors. They prioritize work–life balance, value clear communication, seek purpose in their work, and expect respect within organizational environments. These characteristics challenge leaders from Generations X and Y to reinvent themselves in their roles in order to attract, engage, and retain these young professionals within organizations. In an effort to contribute to the expansion of empirical and theoretical studies on Generation Z, the general objective of this study was to analyze the effective leadership behaviors valued from the perspective of Generation Z. The analysis focused on four categories of leadership behavior: task-oriented, change-oriented, relations-oriented, and external-oriented behaviors, based on the leadership effectiveness framework proposed by Yukl (2012). The findings revealed that Generation Z does not value one leadership behavior at the expense of another, as all are considered important in their own way, although arranged in a different order of priority. Furthermore, the study identified that Generation Z values leaders who can act as mentors and teachers, encourage innovation, inspire trust among followers, clearly communicate methods and expectations, foster professional connections, and demonstrate assertiveness and excellence in their actions. The results also showed that, when analyzed by gender, women from Generation Z tend to prioritize relations-oriented leadership behaviors, whereas men tend to favor task-oriented behaviors. Regarding age and income groups, younger members of Generation Z were found to place greater value on innovative leaders compared to older members of the same generation. The most significant differences were observed between individuals in socioeconomic class C1 (household income of up to four minimum wages) and those in class A (household income exceeding eighteen minimum wages).