Managing employees who are older than you can be a challenge. You may feel awkward and encounter resistance from people who feel more experienced than you. Here are some tips to build effective working relationships with staff your senior.
Dos
1. Do – treat them as you would others
It's a natural tendency to defer to more experienced people in society. Employees' needs may change over time but you should treat everyone in your team equally regardless of age. For employees younger and older than you, find out what they need from you to be effective in their roles.
2. Do – be aware of their feelings
Employees may find it awkward to be managed by someone younger and adopt a defensive attitude. Avoid the potential for friction by letting them know they're a valued member of the team and offering encouragement and support.
3. Do – anticipate their needs
Different generations may have different interests and motivators. By acknowledging this, you'll help forge a stronger working relationship. Trying to pretend differences don't exist may lead to tension. So, look at situations from their point of view. What can you do to help them succeed?
4. Do – tap into their experience
Remember that employees older than you can bring valuable skills to the team. They may, for example, have great communication skills, a strong work ethic and take pride in their work. If they do, you can let them mentor to boost their confidence and pass on valuable skills to new employees.
5. Do – be inclusive
Include everyone in team activities - whatever their age. Your oldest employee may have different priorities from the youngest, but they'll still probably be interested in work social events. Even if they decline invitations, they'll acknowledge the fact that they were invited.
Don'ts
1. Don't – be intimidated
Your employees may have accumulated more experience than you. But as their manager, you shouldn't feel intimidated. Remember that you have your own particular set of skills. Respect what you can learn from them, but also recognise what you can pass on to employees.
2. Don't – get defensive
It's easy to adopt a defensive mindset if you feel awkward about managing people older than you. That's why it's important to be confident. Try to stay rational and positive, focus on your team’s goals and how you can achieve them.
3. Don't – make assumptions
Try to avoid assumptions about senior employees. They may be more interested in technology than younger employees. And still want to develop regardless of experience. Judge your team on their individual strengths and assign tasks and opportunities accordingly.
4. Don’t – be afraid to challenge
If an employee’s performance is below standard, it's down to you to find out why - and put steps in place to fix the situation. The reasons for senior employee's poor performance may be different from a younger person's, but you should approach the situation the same way for all members of your team.
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