Do you feel like younger generations just aren’t as motivated as we used to be?
They want remote work, “Bare Minimum Mondays,” and “Flexible Fridays.” They don’t care about your company’s mission or your endless meetings. They just want to check off tasks and live their lives outside of your business.
But here’s the thing—this isn’t new. Plato and Socrates complained about the youth’s lack of respect for tradition. Aristotle grumbled about their impulsiveness and love of pleasure.
Hate to break it to you, but the problem isn’t Gen Z. It’s you, dear business owner, or CEO.
Winning the buy-in and emotional attachment of your team—young or old—is your responsibility.
So, how do you make it happen?
Start with Your Why
Begin with yourself. Are you passionate about your business? Does it make life better for others? Do you have a compelling, emotionally resonant “Why” statement?
Here are a few examples:
- Limitless MD: “Help all doctors reach Escape Velocity.”
- Combi Packaging: “Liberate people from unpleasant and unhealthy tasks.”
Your “Why” statement should be a cause your team can rally behind. Without it, you’ll struggle to inspire anyone, let alone win their buy-in.
Set a Clear North Star
Next, craft a simple, measurable goal that serves as your company’s North Star. Jim Collins calls it a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). If your “Why” statement is your Moon, your North Star is your Summit—the ultimate measurable destination for your company.
For example:
- Atlas Home Energy Solutions: “Convert 1 million houses to Net Zero by 2040.”
- Clear Impact: “Put in place 1 million Social Impact Measures.”
These bold, measurable goals energize teams and spark creative, 10x thinking.
Define Core Values That Inspire
What about your Core Values? Do they resonate emotionally, or are they just corporate jargon?
Here are two great examples:
- A Beverly Hills plastic surgery practice lives by “Loyal to the Truth,” committing to honesty with patients, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- A tech company automating server parks embraces “Urgently Long Term,” valuing repeatable solutions to complex problems.
Values like these create pride and purpose within teams.
Energize Your Team with Personality
Don’t be afraid to have fun in your meetings. Start with a 5-minute icebreaker to relax and bond your team. This is especially effective with diverse teams from different cultures and backgrounds.
For instance, ask your team to share a superstition they believed as kids. I used to think eating all my food would guarantee good weather!
In the Philippines, people throw coins into wishing wells. In the Middle East, a black cat crossing your path is good luck. These stories create laughs and human connection.
Gamify Progress and Celebrate Wins
People love tracking progress and celebrating milestones. Assign everyone a weekly metric to hit. When 80% of the team hits their targets, call it a “won week.” Report Rock-Step progress in meetings and celebrate together.
You’ll be amazed at how hard your team works when they know their efforts matter—and when they don’t want to let their peers down.
Show You Care
Finally, show your team that you care about them. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
One great way to show you care is by scheduling one-on-one Mentor Meetings with your team each quarter. These personalized check-ins create trust, connection, and motivation. You can download a free Summit OS® tool to guide your meetings here.
What do you think? Are these ideas helpful, or do you have your own strategies? I’d love to hear your take. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or feel free to send me a personal note.