'Why aren't you taking notes?' A Gen Z employee's AI answer left her manager concerned during a client meeting

Gen Z professionals are frequently recognised for adopting new technology and finding quicker ways to complete tasks. However, the methods they bring into the workplace can sometimes create confusion among managers and colleagues from older generations. Practices that seem efficient and logical to younger workers may not always align with established workplace expectations.


A story recently shared by career coach Simon Ingari on X highlighted this difference in perspective. The incident involved a Gen Z employee, a client meeting and an unexpected discussion about the role of technology, professionalism and workplace perception.

According to the post, the situation occurred during an important client meeting. While the manager was taking notes with pen and paper, a Gen Z employee chose a different approach. Instead of writing anything down, she used her smartphone to record the discussion.

When the manager noticed that she was not taking notes, he asked about it. The employee explained that she planned to use AI-powered tools to convert the recording into written text later. In her view, this method was faster, more efficient and capable of capturing the entire conversation without the risk of missing details.

From her perspective, recording the meeting offered a practical advantage over traditional note-taking.

Read More: What makes Gen Z so adaptable at work? The answer may surprise employers

The manager, however, focused on an issue that had little to do with efficiency.

He pointed out that the discussion involved an important client and asked whether permission had been obtained before recording the conversation. Once the concern was raised, the employee immediately stopped recording.


What followed was a broader conversation about expectations in professional settings and how certain actions are interpreted by clients.

The discussion moved beyond technology and centred on how workplace behaviour can influence professional relationships.

The employee questioned why writing notes by hand was still necessary when AI transcription tools could capture every detail within seconds. From a purely practical standpoint, she believed the recording was a more effective solution.

The manager responded that the issue was not about whether AI could perform the task better. Instead, he said the concern was how the client perceived the situation.

According to him, the client had viewed the absence of note-taking as a sign of disinterest or a lack of respect. Even though the employee was paying attention and intended to document the discussion later, the visible act of taking notes carried a different meaning in that setting.

For the manager, perception mattered as much as efficiency.

The explanation surprised the employee. She asked whether simply holding a pen and writing notes was enough to signal attentiveness.


The manager replied that in many professional environments, visible actions such as note-taking communicate engagement and respect. Clients often associate writing notes with active listening, regardless of whether more advanced technology exists to accomplish the same task.

The conversation highlighted how workplace interactions are influenced not only by productivity tools but also by social expectations and professional etiquette.

While technology can improve efficiency and simplify tasks, professional relationships are often shaped by impressions, behaviour and unspoken signals that people use to interpret engagement and interest.

By the end of the exchange, the employee appeared to understand the point. She responded with humour, saying that the experience itself was something worth making a note of.

The incidentshowcased that although AI and modern technology continue to transform the workplace, efficiency is not always the only factor that matters. In many situations, how actions are perceived can be just as important as the outcome they produce.


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