GENERATION Z PREFERENCE ON LEADERSHIP TRAITS IN INDONESIA & JAPAN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Generation Z will crowd the workforce shortly. To prepare for this change, this research aims to identify the Generation’s preference on leadership to enhance effective leadership and maximize their capabilities through motivation, commitment, persistence, productivity, loyalty by meeting this preference. Indonesia and Japan are two very uniquely similar countries in harmony, value, unity, collectiveness, diversity, and high-context communication. Yet, they have distinguished organizational culture and belief. The paper is empirical research done qualitatively through interviews with 16 informants from both countries with their respective languages for those unable to speak English. The conclusion had Leaders in the two countries are preferred to be responsible for the vision they propose, members’ mistakes, the society; solve company’s problems; communicate goals clearly; can say the right thing at the right time; occasionally share knowledge and ideas; listening to members’ ideas; at least slightly more knowledgeable than members; establish target collectively; able to communicate trivial matters besides the formal settings. Furthermore, a correlation between the difference in background and their leadership preference is specified in the paper. The researcher recommends future research to compare between two distinctive countries to conclude deeper about the detailed factors affecting leadership preference in employees.