{"id":3147,"date":"2022-08-30T23:46:26","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T22:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/?p=3147"},"modified":"2022-09-26T14:48:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T13:48:37","slug":"connect-powerfully-with-gen-z-in-three-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/30\/connect-powerfully-with-gen-z-in-three-easy-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Connect Powerfully With Gen Z In Three Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Last week, I was invited to facilitate some communication sessions for the Venture in Management Programme (ViMP) at a globally ranked business school in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ViMP<\/a> is an annual mini-MBA programme spearheaded by the nonprofit organisation Junior Achievement Nigeria, with the collaboration of the Lagos Business School and other partners.  It\u2019s a week-long programme introducing promising graduates to crucial management principles and skills to prepare them for rewarding careers. Topics typically include entrepreneurship, business ethics, accounting and finance, strategy, negotiation, and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started facilitating sessions in the ViMP in 2018 and have found the experience rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior Achievement Nigeria received 950+ applications this year from graduates across  Nigeria, but only 100 made the rigorous cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These sharp applicants, with impressive classes of degrees, were recent graduates, roughly aged 20 to 24 years, with zero to a year of post-graduation work experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They were members of the often misunderstood Gen Z<\/a> demographic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My sessions at this year\u2019s ViMP encompassed interpersonal communication and public speaking. The 100 participants selected were some of the brightest graduates in the country. Therefore, I knew I needed to tweak the content to inspire and coax them to take specific actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My sessions were applauded. Participants met me afterwards to seek advice or share their experiences. But more importantly, they were committed to implementing what they learned in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So based on the participants\u2019 LinkedIn posts gushing about the top-notch ViMP and what I observed in my sessions, below are three easy steps to connect powerfully with Gen Z.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1)<\/strong> Ensure you address the \u2018foundational question\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Two years ago, I introduced the \u2018foundational question\u2019<\/a>  on this blog. I also referenced it in my bestselling business communication blueprint Influence and Thrive<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The foundational question you should ask yourself <\/em>when preparing your content is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I were a member of the audience or the recipient, what is the critical information I need to know?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This \u2018critical information\u2019 should coax the audience to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I\u2019ve been blogging for over a decade. And in many articles, articles, I harp on knowing your audience as the first rule of effective communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To \u2018know\u2019 your audience is not only to research about them (demographic, age range, professional cadre, etc.). You must also ensure that whatever content you share is timely and relevant. Your information should be critical (and not just good to know), so your entire programme will be pointless without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my ViMP sessions, the foundational question ensured I included the following insights in my classes to spur attendees to act:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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