To the Millennial: Proven Steps to Manage Older Employees!
While I was putting on a training session in San Antonio on,
“Managing a Younger Generation: Strategies to Rock the Workplace,” I had
multiple requests from millennials on how to manage older, more experienced
employees. Up to this point my main focus has been on how to manage my
generation, the Millennial Generation. However, as my generation receives
promotions or new jobs, they often have to manage employees that are older than
they are. This can be challenging and awkward. Here are 7 ways to confidently
and effectively manage those with experience and years under their belt.
1.
Recognize Experience
It’s important to recognize ALL employees’ capabilities,
but especially those that are older and more experienced. More than likely, you
were hired because of their experience and hard work. However, you are now
their leader and must remain there. They are not so different from you. They
want to be appreciated and recognized. So thank them for sharing their
experience and input, take it into account, and then clearly give your decision
to move forward.
2.
Appreciate and Recognize All Contributions
Everyone at your company has unique
backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge. It’s very unlikely that anyone has the
same perspective as you do on any project. However, your co-workers were hired
because they have something to contribute, to add value to. So as long as
everyone is working toward the same goal and objectives, there’s no reason to
feel vulnerable by another employee’s experience or age.
3.
Stay Humble
Most of my peers, you the millennials, are
confident. However, to other generations your confidence can come off as arrogance.
Most don’t realize their confidence is derived from being lavishly praised from
your parents, teachers, and even in some cases, bosses. Many of those who celebrated
you could now be those that report to you. So stay humble and remain the boss,
but do so tastefully.
4.
Shut Up and Listen
If you’re like me and you likely are if
you’re a millennial, you live a high speed life. Think about it, you use a
microwave to cook, you have a computer/phone in your pocket where you can surf the
internet and use social media, and you probably haven’t even went to Barnes and
Nobles to purchase a book because you simply downloaded it on your iPad or
Kindle. Sometimes, we millennials need to slow down and smell the roses. We
need to stop barking directions and sit down, shut up, and listen to our
coworkers, especially those with more experience. It’s important you make them
feel valued and genuinely listening can make a world of difference.
5.
Enable, Don’t Micromanage
You hate being managed, especially being
micromanaged. So don’t do it to your employees. Your elder coworkers don’t need
to be micromanaged. In fact, they likely have been doing what they’re doing
since you were in diapers. It’s important for you to enable them. Be there to
help them through their obstacles and recognize when you can learn from them.
You don’t need to be an overbearing boss, but you do need to have their back
when they succeed and when they fail.
6.
Lucky Number 7 – Debate with them!
Most of the people that have worked for me
are older, and in some cases, wiser than me. I ultimately hired them for their
experience and their knowledge, but that doesn’t mean I need to be spineless
and let them run the show. I encourage having open dialogues about my
viewpoints and welcome them to debate theirs. This helps us create concrete ideas
and provides respect on all levels.
President and CEO, Extreme EDvantage.com
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