Your Guide to Keeping and Leading Generation Z Well is Here.
For many managing Generation Z has been your greatest challenge.
Ten Years of Research Has Lead To This Moment
- What if your greatest challenge could become your greatest solution?
- What if your struggle became your secret weapon?
- What if you could turn your worst headache into your best helper?
That is what this book is about. The young population known as Generation Z has shown up at work very different than older generations. 3 out of 4 hiring managers say they are the toughest generation to manage. 30% report firing a Gen Zer within a month of their start date. Another 30 percent say they avoid hiring them altogether. But Gen Z might just be your key to the future and the solution to reinventing your organization.
This book was 10 years in the making and is your reference guide to keeping and leading Generation Z well. But they’ll require us to become better leaders. We must listen more than we used to listen and coach more than we used to coach. I believe if we do—they’ll provide a roadmap for the future. I am better for having them on our team. Along the way, I’ve discovered that Gen Zers are the “sandpaper” on my leadership I didn’t know I needed.
This resources answers questions like...
- How to attract and onboard them so they'll want to stay.
- How to offer firm feedback to a fragile young employee.
- How to uniquely motivate and incentivize them.
- How to cultivate full engagement in Gen Z teammates.
- How to equip them to manage their mental health challenges.
Nine Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace
Endorsements for The Future Begins with Z
“Over the years, Tim's thinking, writing, and speaking on the next generation has given me a broader view of these talented individuals and clear actions I can take to engage them. The Future Begins with Z is another excellent example of Tim's practical and insightful thought leadership about engaging Generation Z. I believe readers will walk away from this book with a better appreciation for the massive opportunities in store for organizations as they tap into this next generation.”
— Dave Katz • President and COO, Coca Cola Bottling Company Consolidated
“Gen Z isn’t lazy—they’re allergic to BS. If your culture’s fake, they’ll quit before your onboarding slides finish loading. This book puts the spotlight back on you, the leader. It doesn’t just explain gen Z—it equips leaders to rise with them. If you’re ready to stop managing and start mentoring, The Future Begins with Z is your playbook.”
— Sangram Vajre • WSJ best-selling author, Founder of Terminus, GTM Partners
“Every generation thinks the next one is broken, but Tim Elmore proves that what looks like dysfunction is often just evolution. His insights will save you years of frustration and unlock potential—in others and in yourself—that you didn't know existed.”
— Daniel H. Pink
“In a few years Generation Z will be leading what we are leading. Each of us have a choice: lead without them and they will change everything we build; lead with them and we both learn from each other. Tim gives us practical and insightful teaching on how to lead alongside Generation Z in The Future Begins with Z.”
— Cliff Robinson • People, Restaurant Development and Operations / COO at Chick-fil-A
“If ever there was a moment when leaders needed to understand the story and strengths of a new generation entering the workforce, it’s now. The Future Begins with Z is packed with research, relevance, and real-world insights on how to lead—and learn from—the digital generation. This isn’t just a book to read; it’s a field guide to shaping the future.”
— Les Parrott, Ph.D. • #1 New York Times bestselling author of Healthy Me Healthy Us
Meet Dr. Tim Elmore
Author, founder of Growing Leaders, and President of Tim Elmore, Inc.
Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. His work grew out of 20 years serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has written 38 books and has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and he’s been featured on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends. A TEDx speaker, Tim was listed as a top 100 leadership communicators by Inc. Magazine. His books include the best selling, Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes, and his latest, A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage.
Pre-order from your preferred book retailer.
The Future Begins with Z: Nine Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace will be released on November 4, 2025.
