Entitled. Sensitive. Fragile. – The three striking words from the SPIEGEL bestseller by Susanne Nickel sound like accusations, but they should really be a wake-up call. Today, Generation Z is met with a mix of fascination, confusion, and even rejection: too sensitive, too easily overwhelmed, too demanding.
But what if this attitude isn’t a weakness—but an overdue correction?
In her book Entitled. Sensitive. Fragile. How Gen Z Is Turning the Working World Upside Down and Forcing Us to Act, Susanne Nickel takes a brutally honest look at what's going wrong in companies—and how this young generation is pushing us to do things better. Whether we like it or not.
Gen Z Isn’t the Problem – They’re a Mirror
Let’s be clear: Gen Z isn’t the problem. They’re the trigger, the reflection, the amplifier. The real issue lies deeper—within outdated structures, an old-fashioned work ethic, and the illusion that performance only happens under pressure.
The Future Asks Questions – and Gen Z Delivers Them
Gen Z is asking the questions we've long avoided—due to fear or lack of time:
Why do you work so much?
Why do you stay in toxic jobs?
Why do you preach New Work, but practice Old Control?
These questions might be tough—but they’re necessary. They lead us to the core of change and allow hope to grow.
Refusal Isn't Weakness – It's Strength
What some interpret as refusal is, in reality, a sign of clarity:
No more 60-hour weeks
No more top-down hierarchies
No more silent loyalty that leads to burnout and depression
This generation makes us reflect—and take action. They’re not lazy, they’re consistent. They know what they want—and what they’re no longer willing to accept.
The Future Doesn’t Need Heroes – It Needs Humanity
At the #nxtKNOWLEDGE Forum, Susanne Nickel will speak about Gen Z and New Work. Her message: "The future needs confidence."
Because challenges like the skills shortage, digital transformation, and value shifts can’t be solved with more control—but with more trust, flexibility, and meaning.
And Gen Z brings all of that:
They rethink work
They put people first
They ask the essential Why
Leadership Requires a New Mindset
Modern leadership isn’t about controlling and deciding—but about:
Creating space
Listening
Living values
If you want to retain talent, it takes more than benefits and glossy words. You need an authentic foundation of values. Because employer branding won’t fix a broken company culture.
Gen Z Isn’t Soft – They’re Wise
Emotional intelligence, self-care, and the search for purpose aren't signs of weakness—they’re the future of leadership.
What we’re seeing isn't a generation conflict, but a transformation. And yes—transitions are unsettling. But uncertainty isn’t the end. It’s the beginning.
Time for Real Change – Not Just Flashy Employer Branding
Gen Z spots fake culture instantly. Career pages and polished LinkedIn posts are no longer enough. If your real company culture contradicts your branding, they’ll walk away—and talk about it. Openly. Publicly. Loudly.
That’s uncomfortable—but exactly what we need. Because those who only modernize the surface while clinging to control and fear will lose trust in the future.
Confidence Is a Choice
“The future needs confidence.” And that confidence starts with the willingness to change. With the courage to question not only processes—but our own understanding of leadership.
Gen Z is forcing us to do that—not because they’re better, but because they’re more consistent. They’re not willing to play the game that left so many burned out, disillusioned, or quiet quitting.
If we take this generation seriously—truly seriously—then they won’t mark the end of the world of work as we knew it.
They'll mark the beginning of something better.
💡 Gen Z isn’t our problem – they’re our biggest opportunity.
