Latest news with #Hendriksen
Business Insider
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Psychologists and generational experts say there's more to the 'Gen Z Stare' than meets the eye
It's not polite to stare — especially, as it turns out, if you're Gen Z. Social media users have described the now-viral " Gen Z Stare" as a vacant, wide-eyed expression often accompanied by an awkward silence. Many of the videos say it happens during retail and customer service interactions, or in painful workplace conversations. While some say the look might reflect lagging soft skills and questionable office etiquette among Gen Zers, psychologists and generational experts told BI the phenomenon could have more to do with natural growing pains at a first job and factors unique to Gen Z's upbringing. And, they noted, intergenerational criticism isn't anything new. "Every generation critiques the generation below them," Ellen Hendriksen, a behavioral psychologist and social anxiety specialist, said. "This is nothing new." Many Gen Zers are working their first jobs Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist who has written about twentysomethings, doesn't buy the trope that Gen Z as a whole is awkward or socially inept. She said what people may be seeing with the Gen Z Stare is likely a result of Gen Zers navigating the workplace for the first time. "For most young employees, working with people of other ages and generations is new," she told BI in a statement. "Blank stares you receive from young workers may be more about not knowing what to do and not feeling confident on the job than about their trying to be (passively) aggressively Gen Z." Megan Gerhardt, a professor of leadership at Miami University and founder of said that customer service jobs, where many social media users claim to see Gen Z Stares, are commonly first gigs. Hendriksen, a parent of two Gen Zers, said the cohort might not be as up for acting "fake," which could impact their customer service interactions. "Gen Z might be less willing to do the people-pleasing part, but that means that some of the professionalism has also gotten lost," she said. Growing up online could play a part Many factors could be at play in what Gerhardt calls the emerging "norm shift," including the fact that Gen Z tends to spend more time on screens. "The idea that now that I'm in a face-to-face customer service situation, and I'm supposed to rally an entirely different set of expressions and responses — that might not be something that Gen Z is either used to understanding or has learned yet," she said. Gerhardt said it's naive to "underestimate" the impact the COVID-19 shutdowns could have had on young people's development, but Jay said she doesn't buy into the notion that Gen Zers are "damaged or stunted" because of the pandemic. Hendriksen thinks the wordless Gen Z Stare could also be a real-world echo of a now-common digital experience: In a Zoom meeting, one person may say hello, only to have nobody respond because they're all muted. "Meet them where they're at" The three experts told BI that regardless of the root causes behind the stare, it's crucial to equip young people with the communication skills they need to thrive in an in-person, multigenerational workforce. "With respect to the workplace, nearly half of Gen Zers think they don't have the skills that workplaces want—and they're right," Jay said. Universities, she added, generally don't teach students crucial workplace abilities like communication and professionalism. Hendriksen agreed that there's a "skills deficit" for Gen Zers in the customer service and retail space, in part because of the pandemic,but said that the group isn't a monolith. It's normal for norms around professionalism and etiquette to shift, Gerhardt said, but it's more productive to work with young people on striking the right tone than to try to mock them. "If we want to make sure that we don't lose this personal touch, then let's meet them where they're at," she said. "Let's invest in helping them understand why that's important and see what they need to get where their bosses or customers feel like they need to go." Generational critique isn't anything new When any new generation has entered the workforce, they've needed to get up to speed on a set of skills, said Gerhardt. The viral criticism of the so-called Gen Z Stare reminds her of the " millennial pause" phenomenon and feels like the "latest iteration of generational shaming." There's been no dearth of criticism targeting various generations — whether it's that boomers are selfish, or that millennials are snowflakes whose avocado toast addiction is to blame for their finances. Now, it's Gen Z's turn. "Our culture loves to make fun of young adults and how unequipped they supposedly are," Jay said.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Yellowknife's mayor is running to be the N.W.T.'s next MP. What happens to her job if she wins?
If Northwest Territories' Liberal candidate wins in the federal election on Monday, she's expected to leave a mayor-sized hole in Yellowknife's city council. Rebecca Alty was first elected mayor in 2018 and was acclaimed in 2022. She took a leave of absence last month to campaign as the territory's Liberal candidate, and deputy mayor Ben Hendriksen has been filling in for her. Alty is running against the Green Party's Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, Kimberly Fairman of the Conservative Party, and Kelvin Kotchilea of the NDP. If Alty is elected as the territory's next MP, the mayor's seat in Yellowknife would become vacant. The territory's Local Authorities Elections Act then offers city council three potential courses of action: appoint a new mayor from within its ranks, hold a byelection, or leave the seat empty until the next municipal election. Hendricksen said the legislation means council wouldn't just be "making up decisions on the fly that suit us as a council." "It's decisions that are within our authority under territorial legislation, and that will be what we all believe together is in the best interest of the city," he said. If council chose to appoint one of its members as mayor, and more than one councillor put their name forward, the decision would be put to a vote by the remaining councillors, said Hendriksen. Since the mayor's role is full-time, the winning councillor would likely have to quit or take a leave from their day job. Council could also leave the mayor's seat empty until the next municipal election, meaning, Hendriksen said, that he would continue on as acting mayor. He doesn't foresee that happening though, in the event that Alty wins N.W.T.'s seat in Parliament, since the next municipal election isn't until Oct. 19, 2026. Coun. Rob Warburton told CBC News over text that if the mayor's seat becomes vacant next week, he would prefer to appoint a new mayor from council. "I think it's too much time before the next election to leave it vacant, but weirdly also too short to put the significant staff time, focus and cost into running a byelection," Warburton said. City officials did not respond before deadline to questions about what might happen to the mayor's job if Alty is elected MP. CBC News asked all the sitting councillors whether they would go for the mayor's job if Alty left it for a seat in the House of Commons. Coun. Garett Cochrane said he's seriously considering it. Couns. Warburton, Cat McGurk, Tom McLennan and Steve Payne said they would not. Couns. Hendriksen and Stacie Arden-Smith declined to say yes or no, and Coun. Ryan Fequet did not respond. CBC News asked Alty and her campaign team whether she would resign as mayor if she was elected MP, or if she would return as mayor if she doesn't win, but did not get a response before deadline.
Arab News
24-02-2025
- Health
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘How to Be Enough'
Author: Ellen Hendriksen This 2025 self-help book, 'How to Be Enough,' by clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, is a lifeline for anyone shackled by self-criticism or the relentless pursuit of perfection. Hendriksen attempts to counter the toxic belief that achievement defines worth, arguing that perfectionism is less a virtue than an armor against vulnerability, and one that breeds anxiety and burnout. Hendriksen's approach is both clinical and deeply human. She weaves psychological research with raw, relatable stories — from high-achievers crumbling under self-imposed pressure to everyday struggles with inadequacy. Her solution is what she terms 'radical self-compassion' or treating oneself with the kindness of a close friend, especially in moments of failure. Anchored by cognitive-behavioral techniques, Hendriksen advises readers to challenge distorted thoughts including catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking. Mindfulness practices anchor individuals in the present, while realistic, process-driven goals replace the tyranny of unattainable outcomes, Hendriksen argues. Hendriksen also confronts societal pressures — from social media comparisons to workplace demands — urging readers to redefine success on their own terms. Practical exercises include journaling to track self-critical narratives, gratitude practices to shift focus from lack to abundance, and gradual exposure to feared scenarios to build resilience. Hendriksen makes clear that self-acceptance is not innate but a skill honed through daily practice. But here is the rub: Some may find the exercises daunting. Can journaling truly silence decades of self-doubt? Does 'good enough' resonate in a world obsessed with excellence? Hendriksen acknowledges the tension, offering no quick fixes but a promise: Liberation lies not in flawlessness, but in embracing imperfection. Her prose is empathetic, almost conversational and the book's strength is its unflinching honesty. It does not sugarcoat the work required but reframes it as a journey toward authenticity. In the end, Hendriksen leaves us with a question: What if 'enough' is not a ceiling but a foundation? By releasing the grip on perfection, readers may find not just peace, but the courage to live boldly — flaws and all. Hendriksen's 'How to Be Enough' is a manifesto for the self-critical, a roadmap from exhaustion to empowerment. It does not promise enlightenment but something better: a path to breathe freely in a world that demands you never stop running.
