Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs A 28-year-old manager has been praised online for her refreshing approach to leadership.Elizabeth Beggs, from Richmond, Virginia, is a director of client relations for a packaging distribution company managing a five-person team. Her staff ranges in age from 22 to 36, and they all have very different requirements and personalities that she’s adept at handling.While Beggs insists that she doesn’t have a management style per se, she told Newsweek that she does, in fact, have a leadership style that she describes as “servant leadership.””I always make it clear in hiring that communication is key,” Beggs said. “Let me know what you need from me and how I can support you, but do not abuse my trust, or it will be gone. There is a strong difference between a leader and a manager.”
Elizabeth Beggs, 28, explaining why she has rejected time off requests from her team in the past.
Elizabeth Beggs, 28, explaining why she has rejected time off requests from her team in the past.
@bunchesofbeggs / TikTok
Indeed, that’s on display whenever a member of her team asks for time off. She’s not afraid to deny their requests—but it’s not what you think.The Gen Z manager explained that her staff have previously submitted leave requests for various reasons, including medical emergencies. Beggs rejects the requests in those instances and tells them not to worry about work or using their time off.”My team is very motivated any only takes time when they need to, I also do not consider anything crazy because if it is important to my team, it is important to me,” Beggs told Newsweek.She continued: “What surprised me the most was when had a rep who had a child in the hospital unable to breathe without oxygen, and the doctors didn’t know why. They were shocked when I told them not to worry about work and that I would have their job for them for a few days. They would have lost their old job, even though it was also a performance-based career.”For Beggs, the focus is on getting the work done rather than the time it takes to complete it. She wants her team to remember the importance of work-life balance.She posted a video on TikTok (@bunchesofbeggs) outlining that “time off is meant to recharge” and not for life-changing events or emergencies. The clip went viral in just a matter of days, with 4.4 million views and 609,200 likes.The overwhelming response has been positive, with many agreeing this is a great way to build trust with employees. Beggs hopes it will show how reasonable Gen Z managers can be, as they aren’t always viewed positively.”Gen Z gets a rap for being lazy and unprofessional, but the reality is, they’re changing the workforce just like other generations did,” Beggs said. “Gen Z is also viewed as unloyal, but many employers no longer offer loyalty to their employees (no pensions, no time off, no family support), yet they expect an insane amount of loyalty in return.”Gen Z is also entering the workforce with an understanding that entry salaries aren’t enough to live off without struggling, and they have to find a side gig to survive. Because of this, Gen Z gets called greedy and entitled,” she said.Despite the negative tropes they are labeled with, Beggs insists that Gen Z can thrive in leadership roles. Having a work-life balance doesn’t mean younger generations lack a good work ethic, as Beggs notes that it “just looks different” from what their predecessors exhibited.Since the video went viral, many TikTok users have praised Beggs for trusting and being open with her staff. This has led to more than 8,700 comments on the post so far.One comment reads: “Bet your team is highly productive and motivated with your management style.”Another person wrote: “Respecting your employees = employees that want to work hard for you!! A MUCH healthier work environment.”One TikTok user replied, “You are setting the standard! Well done.”Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
