When Gen Z opts out, who picks up the slack? — Elman Mustafa El Bakri

Malay Mail

01-07-2025

JULY 1 — Recently, I came across a headline on Fortune.com that made me pause: 'Executives are drowning. Blame the vanishing middle management layer.' It's obviously referring to the 'unbossing' trend among the Gen Z of the workforce, and it stopped me in my tracks because it's the kind of line that stirs up intergenerational debates — with older leaders questioning the younger generation's sense of responsibility, and younger workers feeling misunderstood or unfairly judged.
As someone who works with both industry players and fresh graduates, I can see where the tension lies. But let's be clear: pointing fingers won't solve what is ultimately a deeper, more structural challenge. The truth is more complex than blaming Gen Z for opting out of middle management. Yes, the 'unbossing' trend is real — but so is the burnout among executives. The solution, however, lies not in forcing Gen Z to adapt to old models, but in rethinking how we define leadership itself.
We've known for some time that Gen Z is reimagining what a career looks like. Many of them are not aspiring to traditional middle management roles — not because they don't want responsibility, but because they don't see those roles as meaningful or sustainable. Research conducted by the talent solutions firm Robert Walters found that more than half of Gen Z professionals have no interest in becoming middle managers. Their reasons are straightforward: high stress, low autonomy, and limited personal growth. Add to that the rising expectation for purpose-driven work, and it's clear why the conventional ladder is losing its appeal.
At the same time, we're seeing increasing strain on senior leadership. Reports indicate that nearly two-thirds of executives feel burned out — and it's no wonder. As the middle layer shrinks, the workload often trickles upward. Tasks that used to be filtered or managed by middle managers now land directly on C-suites and VPs, many of whom are juggling more decisions, more people, and more pressure than ever before.
But to attribute all this to Gen Z's reluctance to be part of middle management is to miss the bigger picture. Executive fatigue is not just a generational issue — it's the result of wider shifts: rapid technological change, the rise of hybrid work, the demand for constant innovation, and post-pandemic organisational rewiring.
What's happening isn't a collapse — it's a recalibration.
The challenge isn't that the next generation refuses to lead — it's that the pathways we offer no longer make sense to them. — Picture by Choo Choy May
This moment calls for something deeper than complaint. It calls for reinvention. If Gen Z is rejecting middle management as it stands today, perhaps the smarter move is to redesign what leadership means in this new era. Instead of insisting they take on outdated roles, why not create roles they'd be proud to grow into?
Imagine leadership structures that are more fluid — where influence doesn't require hierarchy, and where impact isn't tied to a title. Instead of gatekeeping, middle managers could function as facilitators, mentors, and cross-functional connectors. These are roles that align better with Gen Z's preference for collaboration, autonomy, and continuous learning. Companies can rethink job scopes, introduce project-based leadership, or rotate leadership responsibilities, for example — all without compromising accountability.
The value of middle management hasn't disappeared. If anything, it's needed more than ever — just not in its traditional form. Gen Z may not want to 'manage' in the way we once did, but that doesn't mean they aren't ready to lead. What they want is a version of leadership that reflects today's realities: fast-moving, tech-enabled, people-first. And organisations that understand this shift — and respond to it — will be the ones that retain not just talent, but energy and innovation.
To get there, we need a mindset shift across the board. Executives, too, must be part of the redesign. Rather than waiting for the next generation to conform, they can take the lead in redefining what good leadership looks like. That means clearer mentorship pathways, more inclusive decision-making, and a stronger focus on building resilient teams — not just reporting lines.
The challenge isn't that the next generation refuses to lead — it's that the pathways we offer no longer make sense to them. If leadership continues to be packaged as stress-heavy, impact-light, and overly hierarchical, it's no wonder people hesitate to step up. What's needed isn't persuasion, but redesign. That work starts with listening — not to flatter, but to understand what leadership could look like when built with, not just for, the people expected to carry it forward.
In the end, it's not about Gen Z picking up the slack. It's about all of us picking up the tools to build something better.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.