Not Everyone Gets a Trophy by Bruce Tulgan: Managing Millennials & Gen Z in the Modern Workplace

In Not Everyone Gets a Trophy, Bruce Tulgan delivers a sharp, research-backed, and refreshingly practical guide for leaders navigating the complexities of managing younger generations—particularly Millennials and Gen Z—in today's fast-paced work environment.

The updated edition of the book reflects the realities of the post-pandemic workplace, remote work, changing expectations, and the growing pressure on leadership to create high-performing, values-aligned cultures.

Tulgan challenges many of the stereotypes surrounding younger workers while offering no-nonsense advice to help senior leaders get the best from their teams without lowering standards or expectations.

Book Summary

At its core, Not Everyone Gets a Trophy is a management playbook. It examines how Millennials—and now Gen Z—enter the workforce with high expectations for feedback, flexibility, purpose, and rapid growth. The book explains why these expectations are rooted not in entitlement but in a world shaped by helicopter parenting, digital immersion, and constant information access.

Tulgan argues that instead of lowering the bar, leaders should raise their game. The goal is not to pander, but to lead with clarity, structure, accountability, and respect.

 Key Insights from the Book

1. Over-communication is essential Millennials and Gen Z value constant, real-time feedback. This isn’t about hand-holding—it’s about engagement. Regular, short check-ins are more effective than occasional reviews.

2. Structure sets people free Contrary to the myth that younger workers want unlimited flexibility, Tulgan shows they thrive within well-defined systems and expectations. Ambiguity leads to disengagement.

3. Leadership is a daily practice "Managing by exception" doesn’t work anymore. Leaders must actively lead every day, providing clarity, coaching, and discipline with consistency.

4. You can’t fake culture Younger generations are highly attuned to authenticity. If leadership talks values but rewards burnout or inconsistency, trust evaporates quickly.

5. Respect is the new currency Respect in this context doesn’t mean authority—it means being heard, developed, and treated fairly. Recognition, transparency, and inclusion matter more than ever.

6. Soft skills aren't soft Time management, communication, self-direction—Tulgan argues these are essential leadership tools. Managers must coach these actively.

   
   

Application for Senior Leaders & SME Owners

1. Implement Daily Check-Ins Move away from outdated performance reviews. Use daily or weekly touchpoints to build trust, reinforce expectations, and coach in real time.

2. Be Clear About the Work Break down roles, deliverables, and KPIs with surgical precision. Clarity reduces stress and sets people up to succeed on their own terms.

3. Develop a Manager Training Program Train your senior team to lead with consistency, empathy, and authority. Tulgan offers tools to help middle managers step up and lead cross-generational teams with confidence.

4. Build Accountability Into Culture Stop shying away from difficult conversations. Accountability, done fairly and frequently, is not a punishment—it's a gift that promotes growth and autonomy.

5. Use Tech Thoughtfully Younger employees are digital natives. Meet them there with communication tools they’re comfortable with—but don’t replace human leadership with Slack messages and emojis.

   
   

Quotes We Enjoyed

“You don’t get respect by demanding it. You get respect by being the kind of leader who deserves it—every day, in every interaction.”

“What Millennials need is strong leadership. Not weaker leadership, not softer leadership. Stronger leadership.”

“Structure is what enables flexibility. The best way to empower younger employees is to be ultra-clear about what needs to get done and how.”

“Don’t expect loyalty just because you signed a paycheck. Loyalty must be earned through fairness, development, and trust.”

 Final Reflection

Tulgan doesn’t coddle managers or Millennials. This book is about raising standards, not lowering them—and recognising that great leadership today means blending structure with empathy, and clarity with care. For senior leaders, especially in SMEs or fast-growing businesses, this is a wake-up call: if you want performance, lead like it matters—every day.

If you're facing retention issues, unclear expectations, or culture drift in your organisation, Not Everyone Gets a Trophy will give you a practical, proven roadmap to course-correct—without sacrificing performance or people.