Question: “I need help communicating with a younger boss. As I am over age 50, most of our managers are younger and think they know everything. They tend to listen to the younger, fresh-out-of-college administrators. I don’t have gray hair, I dress appropriately for my age and always act professionally. Any other ‘experienced’ administrators with the same issue?” — Anonymous
See Comments Below
Like what you've read? ...Republish it and share great business tips!
Attention: Readers, Publishers, Editors, Bloggers, Media, Webmasters and more...
We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.
The only thing we ask is that you keep the article exactly as it was written and formatted. You also need to include an attribution statement and link to the article.
" This information is proudly provided by Business Management Daily.com: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/15517/younger-boss-ignoring-your-experience "
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m 55 and have been in my industry for 30 years. I have a young boss age 34 who was promoted from a company we purchased because he was a top salesman. What a mistake! Our satellite office is fairly large, but the big guys are in another state. My young manager has made it very obvious to everyone that he prefers the younger people on our staff. He doesn’t understand my role or that of my counterparts (also older) nor has made any effort to do so in the last 18 months he’s been our manager. Instead, he constantly is expecting us to handle all aspects of our internal set-up and service which is not part of my job (our roles are set by corporate). He doesn’t read his emails when we try to keep him informed, he likes to invite our young people to go to happy hour or the ball game (even our young clerical assistant who he’s decided is very brilliant even though she shows no initiative and has made error after error….yes, she is very cute.) He comes into the office perhaps 2 or 3 days a week for roughly 3 hours each time–that’s it. Oh, and he like to drink…a lot. In fact, some of our other departments have commented on him getting ‘drunk’ at company functions where they have been in attendance. Our company foots the bill (thanks to him) for several happy hours where he invites only a few of the “young” people and perhaps one customer (always the same one) to justify the expense. Our older employees don’t get invited. We, who ARE an integral part of the team, seem to be expected to sit at the office and do the ‘clean-up’ and grunt work. This manager even invites (young) people to his home (including our clerical person) for “work” or just to drink. It’s supposed to be a funny story that one of our young salesmen drank so much at the manager’s home that he passed-out on the sofa. All of this is minor compared to some of the other stuff he’s done. There may be some young managers out there that are mature enough to do a good job, but I’m not fortunate to have one of them.
I am a younger boss with several employees that are older than myself. We all work very well together, I appreciate them but they do the same in return. I do suggest having an open mind though and looking at the situation through their point of view. It is just as difficult dealing with older employees who lack the respect needed to acheive a good working relationship. You will need to become open minded and positive or it will not work out, if you become unapproachable then working together is not possible. Being younger with less experience does not mean you are not qualified for your position. If your boss was older with fresh ideas would you feel differently?
Older worker, younger boss. What type of business does Anonymous work in? Mostly young people? A mix of ages? Being the oldest person in a software company can be quite different than being the oldest person in a public agency. I’m an older person (almost 70) working with a younger boss & yonger co-workers. I’ve learned from them at least as much as they have from me because I’m open to new experiences. When I feel that my maturity would be more valuable, I find ways to communicate without being somebody’s bossy mother. In fact, one of the reasons that I was hired was my maturity, my ability not to get rattled by situations that would upset a young person. If you don’t know already, you need to find out what your boss(es) expect from you and find a way to adapt, especially if this is going to be your last job before retirement.
One more thing … I also AGREE with Pat!
Oooops, and mispelled “realise” ! Remember to spellcheck!
Ilja Kraag (Author/Admin) mispelled “their” .. so we can learn something everyday.. no matter our age or experience!
I have worked for eight years with a wonderful boss who is 16 years younger than me. He and I get along so great. He appreciates my secretarial background and training, has elevated me from secretary to Office Manager (with subsequent pay raises). I appreciate his skills and talents (he’s a psychologist-professor). He tells me all the time how much he appreciates me, and I am pleased to do whatever I can to make his office run smoothly. This is the last job of a career spanning 40 years, and I must say, I’m at my best. And even though this gentleman is 16 years younger than me, he is absolutely the FINEST boss I’ve ever had, bar none. I am retiring at the end of December 2009, and I can truly say that I couldn’t end my career on a better note!
Great conversation going here. I am over 65 and have 40 + years in management and now executive assistant experience. I have a wonderful position working for the CEO and Vice President of a family owned business – the men are brothers and both are the ages of my own children. They are very different and compliment each other.
I think it is refreshing to work with younger managers who are also entepreneurs – these two keep me hopping and in turn are amazed at my energy and “calm” approach to our work schedule.
I learned a long time ago that no boss wants or needs another “mother” and I take care not to take on that role. I do have a lot of experience, and in time, and with the right approach and openess the younger generation has come to seek my opinion and listen to my ideas. I think you will experince the same thing once you spend some time looking @ their side of the coin.
I think it is really cool to be able to have my health and a wonderful job. I start each day with a good dose of humor. My days are full of learning and challenge – much of which is dished out by these intelligent, focused bosses. It’s all in the attitude and your understanding of your own personal worth. Every once in a while I run into a “hot shot” but I have found that the majority of people (no matter their ages) are respectful and deserving of respect. You will work it out in time and probably learn a lot on the way.
That is a great answer, Adrienne, and brings up a very good point. There may be some friction on both ends of the age thing. To break down those barriers we all need to be open minded and respectful of the knowledge that each of us can bring into the office, and who knows, some will be surprised at what input you or I may have that will cause things to run smoother or more efficiently. Just because something has always been done one way or the other doesn’t mean it is the best way. Nor does age. As long as everyone is working towards a common goal what would it hurt to try to be more open to at least listen to the ideas that someone else may have without preconceived ideas that they “think they know everything”.
I’m a younger Administrative Assistant, to a Director over the age of 50. I do not agree with “knowing it all” but possibly trying to find alternate routes for making life easy. Some of the traditional ways are phased out with changing times, I know my place and I’ll have the work done when it’s expected. It’s just that as I read this I feel like maybe there’s some communication barriers that need to be explored by the younger staff. It’s important to talk, but more important to respect. I think…..
I fall right in the middle – I had an older boss (now gone), and a younger boss (on the job now).
My older boss wouldn’t listen to my ideas, so things went on as usual without progress, and I felt that I wasn’t being heard.
The younger boss (at least 15 years my junion) has brought in some really great qualities and fresh ideas.
If I had to choose between the 2, it would be the younger boss all the way because we’re seeing progress and EVERYONE is listened to now! Plus, he’s really come to know me and appreciate my experience and willingness to apply what I know to what he wants to do.
I also have 35 plus years of experience. I have learned over the years is to listen, watch and learn it only makes me a better employee. It’s all about attitude. Your comment “They tend to listen to the younger, fresh-out-of-college administrators.” tends to lead me to believe that you don’t really appreciate what they do have to offer and though you may think you are acting professional in appearance it may be coming across as bossy or condesending to them and you know no one likes to be spoken to in that manner.
What are the younger admin giving that you are not? Are they more receptive to change when one is implemented? If you are giving your opinion on why something should stay the same how is it actually coming across? Have you spoken to your new managers and asked them their expectations? If you have a new way of doing something how do they want it presented to them? How is your tone coming across do you speak to them as if they are children instead of managers and peers?
Put me down for another “agree with Pat”. Although this has not happened with me, I have seen it happen twice. In both cases, the rest of us co-workers knew that the problem was not with the younger manager, but the real problem was with the older person not adapting to what the newer manager wanted. A manager has the right to want things done his or her way.
Yes, I also agree with Pat. It is often not our age that bothers them but the attitude: I’m here for more than … years and I will tell you how to do/go about/should do/have always done so. They are young and hired as your manager and they have the right to think “they know it all”. Just be their to support and guide with a light hand and a smile. If they are as smart as they think they are, they will realise soon enough that you do know the “how to’s” and will start relying on your input. Give the kids a change (smile).
I agree with Pat — I am not over 50 as yet, however, have almost 30 years of administrative experience and some of the ideas/suggestions the younger generation make are actually good! I work in an office with the majority of the workforce under the age of 35. By listening to my younger co-workers ideas and suggestions, I have definitely earned their respect and they come to me for a lot of problem solving!
I have had similar experiences. I, too, am over age 50 and have 30+ years on the same job. My bosses are much younger and tend to want to do things in new ways. I had to do some “soul searching.” and realized that I’m not very adaptable. You may have to look at yourself first. Once I started opening up to the possibility that things might work their way, they became more open to listening to my “words of wisdom” from experience, and we all have benefited from both sides.