Half of Gen Z leaders admit to struggling with decision-making, despite 86% saying they felt ready to lead - mthree’s new report, The Gen Z Leadership Blueprint reveals
Gen Z professionals are rising into leadership roles faster than any generation before them, according to new researchfrom talent and training partner, mthree. The findings reveal a growing “confidence–capability gap” as young leaders’ self-assurance outpaces the structured development needed to sustain effective performance.
The Gen Z Leadership Blueprint report was based on a nationwide survey of 1,000 business leaders across multiple generations in technology, banking, and the public sector. It found that 86% of Gen Z managers felt ready when first given leadership responsibilities, with 43% “very ready”. By contrast, just 24% of older generations said the same when they reached similar stages in their careers.
Confidence is strongest in fast-paced industries. In technology, 65% of Gen Z leaders described themselves as “very ready” to lead, compared with 40% of older peers. In banking and finance, the figure was 32% versus 23%, and in the public sector, 27% versus 19%.
Yet this self-belief isn’t always matched by experience. Only 64% of Gen Z leaders have received structured leadership training, compared with 76% of Millennials, signalling a downward trend in how organisations prepare employees for management. Combined with the demands of hybrid working and widespread skills shortages, the lack of early leadership development could prove costly.
The consequences are already visible. Nearly half of Gen Z managers struggle with decision-making (47%), and 46% face challenges with conflict management, according to older colleagues surveyed.
With organisations like the Chartered Management Institute already estimating that poor management costs the UK economy £84 billion annually*, the report warns that unless employers invest in development, these skill gaps could further limit productivity, weaken team cohesion, and fuel higher turnover.
“Gen Z are bringing real confidence and energy into the workplace,” said Imran Akhtar, head of academy at mthree. “They’re ready to take on responsibility, but confidence alone isn’t enough. Employers must pair ambition with structured development to unlock genuine leadership potential, because when people are equipped early, they grow faster and strengthen the whole organisation.”
The findings come at a critical moment for sectors facing systemic pressure, from healthcare and education to local government, where limited leadership capacity can directly affect service delivery and workforce morale.
mthree supports employers in building leadership pipelines through its Hire Train Deploy model, equipping emerging talent with the skills and confidence to make an impact from day one, while preparing them to become future leaders. Byinvesting in development early in people’s careers, employers can turn Gen Z’s ambition into lasting capability and stronger performance across the workforce.
To read the full findings, visit The Gen Z Leadership Blueprint or learn more about how mthree builds skilled, job-ready teams at www.mthree.com.
