If you’ve noticed a younger employee holding your gaze with a blank, unreadable expression, you’re not alone. What’s been dubbed the “Gen Z stare” is making waves both online and in the workplace. Though some dismiss it as a passive, disengaged look, or even a silent form of rebellion, experts suggest that this generational behavior signals something much deeper.

What Is the Gen Z Stare?

Described as a long, flat expression with little visible emotion, the so-called Gen Z stare has become a TikTok talking point and a workplace puzzle. It shows up in team meetings, customer interactions, and daily conversations with supervisors. From the outside, it might look like boredom or indifference. But experts say that perception misses the point.

This generation came of age during a time when face-to-face interaction was replaced by screens and isolation. The pandemic years disrupted social development at critical stages, leaving many Gen Zers unsure how to engage in small talk or non-digital communication. For them, prolonged eye contact paired with a neutral expression may feel like attentiveness, not disengagement.

In fact, some workplace researchers compare the stare to a subtle “freeze” response, a pause that’s less about shutting down and more about processing. For digital natives accustomed to absorbing information through rapid, scrolling content, stillness doesn’t necessarily mean disinterest.

Why Managers Should Rethink Their Assumptions

What looks like disengagement might actually be a generational difference in how attention and participation are expressed. Leaders that expect traditional signs of engagement such as active nodding, verbal affirmations, or enthusiastic facial expressions risk misreading Gen Z employees entirely.

Rather than jumping to conclusions, leaders should ask themselves:

• Are we mistaking a neutral expression for lack of focus?
• Are we evaluating engagement based on outdated cues?
• Are we fostering communication methods that resonate with all generations in our workforce?

Taking time to observe, rather than assume, can help uncover how Gen Z employees express attentiveness and interest in their own way.

What Employers Can Do

• Rethink Training Models: Use real-world observations to understand how Gen Z employees naturally engage. This can help refine onboarding and training approaches to feel more authentic and less top-down.
• Prioritize Dialogue Over Assumptions: Encourage managers to check in with younger team members directly, rather than interpreting body language through a generational lens.
• Design for Co-Creation: Traditional hierarchies frustrate Gen Z workers. Giving them a sense of ownership and creating opportunities to co-create solutions can lead to stronger engagement.
• Focus on Purpose and Flexibility: Gen Z employees are looking for transparency, authenticity, and shared goals. They respond well to leadership that mentors rather than micromanages.
• Leverage Peer Influence: This generation leans heavily on peers and digital communities for insight. Involving them in social media initiatives or brand advocacy can tap into their natural strengths.

A New Standard for Connection

Ultimately, the Gen Z stare is not a sign of detachment but rather a cue that traditional management approaches need to evolve. As this generation continues to shape the future of work, leaders who invest in understanding rather than stereotyping will be better equipped to build trust and drive results.

Ignoring the “stare” could mean missing a crucial signal from your next generation of talent.

Source: Forbes.com