Either it's the similarity or difference between the age of the boss and employees, it can cause misunderstandings for both parties. So what does a boss need to do to lead employees of the same age, older age and narrow the age gap so as not to affect morale and overall work productivity?
One of the causes of conflicts in the current working environment is the age difference between the boss and employees. The fact that you are the boss, working with employees of the same age and older is no longer a rare thing. At this time, there will always be awkward and confusing cases in the workplace. If you are the same age or younger than your employees, here are some effective work skills and behavior that should be kept in mind.
1. Respect each other's role
In the near future, the young generation joining the senior leadership team in the business is no longer a novelty. This sometimes makes employees of the same age as the boss and even "old" employees feel uncomfortable. However, you can still fine-tune your boss-employee relationship starting with respecting your associates.
Respect is the golden rule in daily conduct to maintain relationships in general. You need to understand that, it is not natural for the business to give you more responsibility with great pressure at that age. Therefore, work with your employees in a spirit of cooperation and courtesy to receive the same treatment.
The boss and employees need to respect each other's role
2. Age is just a number
At this time, you are taking on a senior position, working at the office. You are cooperating, coordinating with subordinates, colleagues to work better, not cooperating based on age. Too much ego at work will not be able to help you develop your career well and go further in your career as well as help your business go up. Therefore, equality at work, between the boss and employees needs to be a top priority.
3. Make good use of experience
You are a new manager in the business and have many employees your age. In order to be respected and admired by your subordinates, you need to show your experience and professional competence in your work. Show this by organizing your work well, properly assessing the capabilities of your employees, assigning the right jobs to the right people, etc. Employees your age and maybe even those older than you will see that you are really worthy of the position - their boss.
4. The spirit of providing constant support
The tendency of guiding and leading younger people is not only common in life but also in work. However, with employees the same age or older than you, instead of keeping the mindset of "just doing your job", why not try to create an open working environment for everyone to work together to accomplish the shared goals.
Instead of making yourself an impulsive, rigid person, let everyone freely give ideas and discuss. Note that the final decision is still in your hands after consulting with the staff.
Cooperate and fully support in work
5. Effective communication, flexible cooperation
At the office, everyone works together, so it requires you to have clear communication. An honest, frank conversation between the boss and employees will help dissolve any disagreements at work. You should arrange a time to discuss with subordinates of the same age and above about the expectations in work, working style, and roles clearly and specifically.
Be open and flexible when there is an age difference between the boss and employees. For example, you like to discuss work assignments through text, email, and modern communication means, but employees prefer to delegate in meetings. You should be flexible in both ways of assigning work so that employees understand that you are a professional manager, always adapting to all circumstances.
6. Contradictions help develop understanding and relationship
A rudimentary mindset of many managers is that they are the ones who lead. At that time, their opinion is always right and always important. However, today, the working environment is increasingly competitive and fair, creating more conflicts. In the age of information and education, workers are exposed to many sources of information, so they become more opinionated and easier to develop professional capacity. With this, it is clear that the above thinking is no longer relevant.
At this time, employees expect the manager to accompany the team and work together effectively, not to play the power control game. Also at this time, the courage of the leader to face the conflict of the employees is the key to deciding whether the conflict is resolved or not. So, consider conflict as an opportunity to discover active, talented employees and an opportunity to understand and learn more from your own employees. From there, improve yourself and help your business develop better.
7. Focus on shared goals
No matter what position you are taking, the most important thing that both the boss and employees need to focus on is the company's shared goal and the delivery of the best performance. Therefore, you should focus on the plan, goals, and direction of the business. Age obstacles in communication only make you feel awkward, distracting, leading to ineffective work results and management. If so, all team members are affected, not just you.
Focus on the mission and development goals of the business
8. Be wise solving problem
Please deal with all issues in the most objective way, not on the basis of age. For example, you could say, "I see you're a bit reluctant to take this job, is there any problem" or "I appreciate your opinion, but ultimately I need you to implement this project in the way that we discussed,…”.
Read now: How to gain clever problem-solving skills for anyone
9. Make sure you’re good at management skill
Don't let any employee your age or older have an excuse to refute your expertise. If your management skills are still lax, try to improve it now. You should learn a lot to know how to better delegate, how to give reviews and feedback, do so, constantly learn from experience, constantly update new knowledge and trends to be able to handle the current position as a boss.
In the business, evaluate fairly, recognize and reward employees who perform well. You also do not hesitate in giving discipline, general rules. That way, the relationship between the boss and employees will become good, creating effective work productivity and helping the business develop better.
Prove that you’re a professional manager
Hopefully, the above tips will help you avoid problems of dissatisfaction from employees of the same age or older, helping the relationship between the boss and employees become as good as possible. Make an effort to be a wise, intelligent leader no matter what age you are, how you manage your employees.
Navigos Search wishes you a lot of success as a leader and takes your business further and stronger. At Navigossearch.com's job directory, we are constantly updating recruitment news for attractive mid-level and senior positions. Visit now to choose a job that matches your ability, years of experience and skills. Or you can also actively send your CV for a chance to become a potential candidate in Navigos Search's candidate database.
Our team of recruitment experts are all very experienced, knowledgeable about the labor market, each core industry and especially deeply understand the value of candidates. When there is suitable recruitment news and based on a methodical recruitment process, a recruitment expert will actively contact and advise on recruitment requirements, how to negotiate attractive salary and bonus, ... for candidates.
Navigos Search is the leading prestigious high-level human resource recruitment agency today
With over 20 years of experience in the profession, Navigos Search has supported and accompanied millions of candidates across Vietnam to get the right dream job with just a click. With outstanding advantages, we are proud to be the most perfect mid-level and high-level job search channel for all candidates today.
Don't forget to follow Navigos Search's Fanpage and LinkedIn more often so that you don't miss market information, hot industries, useful advice on how to manage your business, how to advance your career, etc. Thank you readers for always following Navigossearch.com!
Navigos Search - Vietnam's leading middle and high-level talent hunting company