Double FOBO: Why Next-Gen Workforce Is Paralyzed by Fear

If you are a boomer, I have very sad news: you’ve probably — and recently — discovered what FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is, but now, you’ll have to forget about it. There is a new buzzword for business, and it is used in alternative ways: FOBO, the Fear of Being Obsolete, and FOBO, the Fear of a Better Option. Halloween may be over, but both fears seem real, very present, likely, and paralyzing. How can Gen Z lead without getting lost in the digital age because of these phobias? 

We are living in one of the most transformational moments in history. As never before, eight generations coexist simultaneously. So many different ages, perspectives, and interests. Obviously, we can't have the same expectations of these different generations — the Greatest Generation (those in their late 90s and older), the Silent Generation (the first television generation), baby boomers (who worked with email and computers in their later years), Generation X (who went from an analog childhood to the dawn of the internet), millennials (pioneers of social media), Generation Z (who have never known a world without smartphones or high-speed internet), Generation Alpha (who learn about touchscreens and voice assistants even before they learn to read), and Generation Beta (babies born into a world where artificial intelligence is a reality). All these generations imply very different challenges but, perhaps, Gen Z will struggle more with them.

The older segment of Generation Z, or centennials (23 to 28 years old), has already completed their college education and has some years of work experience, while the middle group (18 to 22 years old) is currently in higher education, entering the workforce through internships or their first jobs. They are the newest wave of professional talent and already constitute a significant and growing part of the global workforce. Soon, they will be the ones leading businesses and companies. Sadly, they have been criticized for being disengaged and lacking loyalty. Is that true?

Like the myth of the two-headed Hydra, these youngsters live in a duality of threats. We have heard so much about AI transformation that it can cause anxiety for those who recently finished their studies. How many headlines have we scrolled through about new careers and those that will become obsolete? If this is causing concern for Generation X and millennials, their career paths aren't just beginning, and they'll likely see such a drastic change closer to retirement. It's understandable that Gen Z feels that AI is taking away their opportunities; they are experiencing in real time how entry-level tasks (writing emails, analyzing data, creating drafts) are being technologically developed just when they should be learning to do them. How will they answer the typical question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" if they're from that generation? Did we ever imagine that young people before they turn 30 would feel like 60-year-olds, fearing obsolescence? The World Economic Forum highlights this chasm, estimating that 44% of core worker skills will be disrupted in the next five years. Incredible, but real.

The other big head of this monster is the Fear of a Better Option. Ironically, this feeling is in their DNA. Generation Z was born into a world where endless choice is the norm. They grew up with Netflix (they can personalize their films or tv show options as much as they want), Spotify (they don’t need to turn on the radio to know what’s new), Amazon (they prefer this kind of shopping, which lets them choose between endless alternatives), and Tinder (dating and scrolling is a natural practice). We can see that the idea that "the perfect match is just a click away" is innate in them.

They don’t see their job hopping as a lack of loyalty. They are "maximizers" by nature, choosing what to buy, where to live, even a restaurant, and, of course, a job offer based on the desire to optimize themselves to the extreme. Can we blame them for that? 

Undoubtedly, among those many options, Generation Z has decided to embrace the technological innovations brought by AI. But are we supporting them on a human level?

In Greek mythology, Phobos is the divine personification of fear and panic. He is the son of Ares, the god of war, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Phobos and his twin brother, Deimos (terror), were attendants who accompanied their father into battle, riding his chariot and spreading overwhelming panic among the warriors. It is up to us to prevent AI from galloping forward, accompanied by these fears, and destroying the professional lives of an entire generation. It’s time to ask, even if you're not Gen Z: Have you felt the presence of Phobos?