
There has been so much coverage in the media recently about Xennials, a micro-generation born between the cusp years of Gen X-ers and Millennials. But what do we know about this newly identified cohort and how might it benefit companies when recruiting senior staff? Here are ten reasons why Xennials make great leaders and what value they can bring to your organisation:
1. Xennials learned to communicate before Whatsapp existed
Xennials grew up when there were limited modes of communication â if you wanted to talk to your friends you had to go and knock at their door, call them on the landline, or write them a letter. Acquiring such analogue communication skills early on in life mean that Xennials can handle long-form writing, are adept at using multiple modes of communicating, and can adjust their style accordingly. They are much less willing to use email to send difficult or complex messages, which are likely to result in miscommunication. If theyâre unhappy with someoneâs performance, they will invite them into their office and tell them in person. If theyâre not getting the service they expect, they pick up the phone. If they want to take formal proceedings against someone, they keep a written record. Knowing how to read a situation and comunicate accordingly is something Xennials excel at.
2. Xennials are specialists but understand the big picture
Many Xennials either didnât have to pay tuition fees for their first undergraduate degree or only paid a minimal fee compared to todayâs standards, meaning they graduated with comparatively small amounts of debt. As a result, they were able to go back to university to pick up diplomas, masters, and other specialist qualifications. These qualifications may have been professional or other academic pursuits, but the upside is they have been able to cultivate specialisms and interests at work and beyond, whether thatâs warfare in Ancient Greece or feudal systems in medieval Europe. This means Xennials are both highly skilled and well-rounded, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to their work.

3. Xennials are the original âearly adoptersâ
Xennials are unique because theyâre the last generation to experience an analogue childhood and digital adulthood. This means that although they were aware of technology as they were growing up, it wasnât the main feature in their lives (although they did watch a lot of TV). When they graduated from university their first jobs required them to sit at a desk with a computer and learn how to work in a world where almost all communication had moved to digital. They experienced the start of Web V2.0 as they became bloggers in droves, and saw the birth of social media. Xennials were the first to sign up to Facebook and Twitter, as well as Myspace, Friends Reunited, and Friendster (remember those?) They know how to use social media but are not vacuous narcissists taking selfies every five seconds. They have also had to jettison much of the technology they grew up with and adapt to a new world order, so they are often first in the queue when testing new products â whether it be the latest iPhone or a new computer game. In an increasingly digital era, Xennials are not afraid of new technology and often happily embrace it.
4. Xennials know what a âwork-lifeâ balance really means
Xennials are not wedded to their smartphones, tablets, or iPads and know how to take quality time away from their screens, which means when they return to the office they are re-charged and their focus and attention is on their work. They also enjoy the benefits of analogue downtime â whether thatâs reading a book or listening to a vinyl album all the way through (non-ironically of course). Not only have they not had their nightâs sleep disturbed by SnapChat alerts, they also take proper holidays and donât feel the need to be plugged in the whole time. That often allows them to reflect on how work is going and what they might change when they get back.
5. Xennials benefited from the New Labour boom years
Xennials graduated during the boom years of New Labour and benefitted from the abundance of high quality graduate jobs that, in comparison to zero hour contracts and internships most Millennials face when they leave university, were actually quite well paid (although they didnât think so at the time). They were able to nurture professional interests and when they felt they had learned everything they could from a job, they would move onto another more senior and better-paid role allowing them to add to their portfolio of transferable skills. Or they would start their own companies. They were largely unaffected by the 2008 crash because they already had about 6â10 years of experience under their belt and their jobs were, on the whole, relatively safeguarded. This has meant they have been in leadership roles for much of their thirties, providing an experienced set of hands when it comes to running a department or indeed a company.
6. Xennials are inter-generational mediators
Ever watched a Gen X-er or Baby Boomer tearing their hair out because their Millennial assistant doesnât do what they want them to or just doesnât have âthe right attitude?â Because Xennials are a cusp generation overlapping two generational groups, they are able to understand both sides and mediate the conversation. Theyâre both comfortable in the company of older more senior staff and younger junior staff members, often appearing to be a âsocial glueâ between the two. They are able to understand and translate the needs of both and help avoid unnecessary confrontation.

7. Xennials have had the time to work out who they are
In hindsight, Xennials have had a lot more freedom in their choices because they came into their twenties during an economic boom (see above). They could take a âgap yearâ as they reflected on who they are in a yurt or kibbutz or move around in different jobs and different sectors as they broke away from the traditional baby-boomer idea of âone job for life.â This means they spent a lot more time than other generations really thinking about their careers â what they want to do, how they get intrinsic meaning and value from their work, and finding professions that give them purpose. As a result, Xennials are often doing what they want to do and bring passion, experience, knowledge, and a sense of vision to their work that permeates everything they do. This acts as a huge motivator to their seniors, peers, and teams.
8. Xennials learned disruption from 9/11 and technology
When Xennials hit their early twenties, America experienced itâs worst terrorist strike on American soil. They watched on TV as the Twin Towers burned and then collapsed in what was one of the most shocking events in their lifetime. They were also a generation that abandoned their beloved cassettes, CDs, and vinyl records for mp3s; their hi-fis for iPodsâ their Nokia 3310 phones for iPhones; and their clunky IBM PCs for MacBooks. They have seen how an ideology can disrupt global politics and how technology can disrupt how we consume media. On a micro-level they have learned how to disrupt the work place and challenge the status quo. This is especially important for those companies stuck in a rut or have seen their profit margins eroded over the last ten years. Xennials donât accept the excuse âthis is how weâve always done thingsâ but instead challenge conventional thinking and because of their tenacity, they simply chip away at received wisdom until everyone has changed their mind.

9. Xennials learned from Luke Skywalker
Was there ever a more committed rebel than Luke Skywalker in George Lucasâs trilogy, Star Wars? Letâs not forget, Xennials were born between 1977 and 1983 when the original trilogy was released in cinemas, leading to some commentators renaming this micro-gen the âStar Wars Generation.â They grew up with Han Solo, Princess Leia and Darth Vader, immersing themselves in a mythology as powerful as Tolkienâs Lord of the Rings, another film trilogy that would dominate their formative years. But the story of Luke is an inspirational one â a boy from an obscure planet who rises to the position of Lieutenant Commander in the Rebel Alliance and then becomes a Jedi Knight. Luke is notable because he has to put the time and energy into training and learning his craft as a Jedi Master, as well as being able to trust his instincts. His father, Darth Vader, tells him that his destiny is to join the dark side like him but he resists, deciding to strike out on his own, a message not wasted on Xennials.
10. Xennials put cynicism and optimism to good use
Cynicism gets a bad press these days â being cynical is often seen as being very negative. But a dash of cynicism can actually help cut through the bullshit of day-to-day office politics which often gets in the way of productivity and colleagues working collaboratively. Xennials possess that Gen X cynicism but itâs nicely balanced out by a Millennial optimism and enterprise that looks at problems in entirely different ways and helps them question some of the assumptions made by their peers. Theyâre not blithely optimistic either â âOh the company will be fineâ â but realists who have also thought through various scenarios and planned accordingly.
