Peer-to-peer leadership is important at any age, and Gen Z is no different. This less conventional approach utilizes a model where leadership is shared among peers, rather than being confined to a traditional hierarchy. This approach fosters a more inclusive and collaborative environment, which encourages members and volunteers to take ownership of their work as part of the group’s collective success.

As we touched on in parts one and two of this series, empowerment and equality are two values that are especially important to successfully engaging Gen Z. Peer-to-peer leadership is effective with this generation because it:

• Encourages collective ownership and shared responsibility.
• Builds trust between members.
• Empowers volunteers to take on leadership roles regardless of age or experience.
• Fosters an environment where all members of all ages have an equal say and vote.
• Provides opportunities for mentorship and leadership development programs.
• Drives greater accountability and problem solving amongst the collective.

As you start to recenter your efforts on working with Gen Z, whether it is through membership recruitment or volunteer participation, it’s important to ensure they are ready for success. Leverage the experience of your veteran members as mentors or liaisons to help them achieve their goals. Confidence is crucial, and your club has the power to play a pivotal role in helping Gen Z build it.

• Shout Out!: Use popular communication platforms to allow team members to publicly celebrate each other’s contributions. Facebooks groups are most common among Sertomans, but you can also encourage engagement on other platforms like TikTok, Instagram or a club website.
   
• Reframe Mistakes: Cultivate a growth mindset by reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. The power of positivity can make this a time to foster support among peers, while taking some of the stigma away from failure. We want our Gen Z leaders to be resilient so that they can lead with confidence.
   
• No Judgment Zone: It’s common to hear people express frustration with "young people these days," but it’s important to recognize that such generalizations can be limiting. Every generation brings its own strengths and challenges, and many young individuals are eager to contribute and make a positive impact. Reflecting on your own experiences when you were younger can foster a sense of empathy and understanding. Keep in mind that perceptions of younger generations are often shaped by media and social platforms, which may not always offer a complete or fair picture.
   
• Start With Microleadership: You have to give them chances to engage and lead. Really listen to and consider their opinion and expertise just as you would your more tenured members. Allow them to coordinate a small project or lead a discussion at a club meeting. Let them organize a non-meeting casual social hour or find a speaker the club hasn’t had before. Don’t just push the undesirable tasks off onto them, or you will lose them.  Instead, see these microleadership opportunities as a way to slowly transition them into bigger roles.

As we continue to evolve in our understanding of effective leadership, embracing peer-to-peer models can help cultivate a next generation of confident, engaged individuals who are equipped to lead, learn, and contribute to Sertoma meaningfully. If your club has been successful in engaging Gen Z, send your story to usor post it to the Facebook group. We would love to be able to share your tips with your fellow Sertomans.