In episode 138 of The Woodard Report Podcast, hosts Joe Woodard and Heather Satterley share insights on generational differences in the workplace, the professions most vulnerable to AI disruption, and lessons drawn from pop culture. Along the way, they spotlight Woodard members, highlight valuable articles, and remind listeners of the importance of curiosity and continuous learning.
Heather kicked off the discussion with findings from a recent CPA Practice Advisor article exploring how Gen Z views feedback at work. According to the report, 76% of managers believe Gen Z employees need more praise than older workers. The survey also found that 71% of Gen Zer’s expect praise simply for meeting job standards, while 58% say they need it even when they fail.
As a parent of Gen Z children, Heather reflected on her own experiences:
“I definitely praised my kids even when they had a fail as a supporting parent. That is the environment they’re used to,” Heather observed, adding that while her children were raised with participation praise, her 21-year-old son actually prefers recognition tied to real achievement.
Joe added that he sees it less as generational fragility and more as a broader workplace reality:
“I think it's not fragility. I think that's what a lot of people misunderstand. I think it's just conditioning, environmental conditioning.”
Both agreed that thoughtful praise, balanced with constructive coaching, remains vital for employee engagement across all generations.
Joe then highlighted a new Microsoft report, covered by Forbes, which analyzed jobs most vulnerable to displacement by artificial intelligence. Among the most at risk were interpreters and translators, historians, flight attendants, writers, customer service representatives, and broadcast announcers.
By contrast, jobs least likely to be disrupted include nursing assistants, embalmers, plant system operators, oral surgeons, and ship engineers. The common thread? Roles requiring a blend of critical thinking and physical dexterity.
Joe emphasized the importance of recognizing where accounting fits:
“Really hear me accountants because you weren't mentioned and you dodged a bullet. Lawyers weren't mentioned. Architects weren't mentioned. It's not that they weren't mentioned because they're not going to be disrupted. It's because they're not going to be disrupted imminently.”
Heather shared a quote from the sci-fi series Foundation:
“Math is never just numbers. When words fail us, we use math to describe the inexpressible, the things that terrify us most, the vastness of space, the shape of time, the weight and worth of a human soul.”
She connected this to accounting, noting how numbers help business owners articulate what they’re feeling and reveal opportunities for change.
Joe drew inspiration from Game of Thrones, citing Tyrion Lannister:
“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone if it is to keep its edge.”
For Joe, the lesson is simple: lifelong learning is essential for professional development and personal growth.
Heather shared a new feature in ChatGPT: the ability to switch between models in the same conversation, which she says has boosted her efficiency. Joe shared his own insight, explaining that ChatGPT answers are built on probabilities rather than hard facts which is an important distinction for professionals relying on AI tools.
Joe expanded on Heather’s point, explaining how model switching relates to server performance and that some default behaviors in earlier rollouts led to inefficiencies. He emphasized how understanding model behavior improves AI effectiveness.
Heather spotlighted Woodard member Vicki Henry, who runs a practice in New Mexico. Heather praised her commitment to defining her ideal client, navigating change with clarity and purpose, and steadily building her ideal practice.
“She has just navigated that beautifully in a kind, in a vision, mission, purpose-directed way to really create the practice that she's always wanted.”
The hosts closed by discussing Jennifer Scott’s Woodard Report article, “Interviewing on Purpose: Great Hires Through Better Questions.” Heather noted its emphasis on the cost of a bad hire and the importance of asking questions that reveal problem-solving skills and resilience.
Joe added that firms can use AI tools to help screen resumes, but the human side of interviewing remains critical:
“Use ChatGPT to thin it down, then get very human as Jennifer’s talking about here with the actual interview process.”
🎧 Listen to the full episode at woodard.com/podcast.
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This article was generated by AI and reviewed and edited by a human.