CURATED READS FOR GEN Z—AND THEIR Z-CURIOUS COLLEAGUES

first up

Welcome back! This week, we’re talking time—how to use it, how to lose it.

Gen Z’s obsession with time is apparent all over the internet: there are countless “5 to 9” videos with millions of views, along with headlines that claim Gen Zers demand a workday free from the constraints of the eight-hour window that has largely defined office work for the last century, or to make life their full-time job and work their part-time job.

These acts of defiance may be a way for Gen Zers to reclaim what feels like lost time—particularly when your work is not necessarily fulfilling (for more on this, read our recent newsletter on finding your purpose at work.)

Here’s another hypothesis: people with less power—for our purposes, those in entry-level positions or those who are early in their careers—feel they have less time.

Sure, none of us were born to sit at a “silly little” desk and send silly little emails. But chances are, people do need (and on some level, maybe actually want) to work, so taking more control over the time spent working will likely pay dividends. Consider the difference between “costly” and “costless” time, as explained by McKinsey partner Bryan Hancock in a recent episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast: 

Bryan Hancock: For [McKinsey alumnus Bill Schaninger], doing something from 3:00 to 4:00 on a Friday afternoon is incredibly costly because it cuts into quality time with his son. But if Bill were just sitting outside waiting for his kid’s activity to end, that’s costless time. That’s when he can afford to make up the time he took off on Friday.

Bill Schaninger: The slot may vary by age and by life context, but universally, people like being asked what that no-fly zone is, what the really costly time is. That ought to be a “101,” really. 

Basically: if there’s some time slot that’s really valuable because you use it to do something that fills your cup—take the time to do that thing.
 
Or there’s this scenario: maybe you have a really busy job—long hours, back-to-back meetings, that kind of thing—where even after a full day, it can feel like you checked off nothing on your to-do list. It turns out, real-time, virtual interaction (aka, ceaseless video meetings) is a time suck. The good news is everyone wants fewer meetings, even executives, who say they “find themselves spending way too much time on pointless interactions that drain their energy and produce information overload.”
 
Two ways to reclaim your time if this is you: First, suggest an email in place of an undefined meeting. Second, get clarity on when you get a say in something and when you don’t (which can also free you from meetings where you keep your camera off and mic muted as you watch TV in the background … or finally tackle your mountain of emails … or respond to your mom’s texts. No judgment).
 
Worried you’ll be penalized for asking whether you’re needed in a meeting? Remember: no one gets a standing ovation for performing in the “productivity theater.” 

VISUALIZE IT

Africa has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, which could reach 2.5 billion people by 2050. But its citizens still face higher levels of poverty than other developing regions.

WAIT, DON’T SCROLL

Board game. What exactly does a company’s board do? That’s one of the questions answered in our latest McKinsey Explainer.

The ‘zero’ consumer. Zero boundaries, zero loyalty, and zero patience are some of the characteristics that define today’s shopper. Tough crowd.

Dot.edu. A survey of 7,000 people across 17 countries revealed what higher education students expect from online programs. Among the findings: students want hybrid learning options to stick around.

NOT US; STILL GREAT

Later, boomer. Gen Xers are now in charge, which could encourage a new era of corporate norms. [NYT]

Kramercore. Cosmo Kramer is the summer’s sartorial North Star. The right man, the right time, the right wardrobe. [Atlantic]

CROSSWORD

— Edited by Alexandra Mondalek, editor, New York