In the movie ‘The Intern’, Robert De Niro plays 70-year-old widower Ben, who picks up a senior internship under much-younger boss Jules, essayed by Anne Hathaway. The age gap is vast, and one wonders about Ben’s challenges in reporting in to someone half his age. This is a mindset that prevails across corporate setups and boardrooms, especially if the boss in question happens to be a woman!
According to an article published by Harvard Business Review, ‘Generational differences in the workplace are often a challenge, but dealing with a younger boss is perhaps the most difficult.’ The article also quotes Peter Cappelli, professor of management at the Wharton School and coauthor of ‘Managing the Older Worker’. He said, ‘It’s not so much the age thing as the experience thing. Say, for instance, you are taking a ski lesson from an instructor who’s 20 years younger than you but has been skiing for 15 years. That’s not going to bother you. But if you’ve been in business for 20 years and your boss has been in business for 10, you might think, ‘Why am I taking orders from this person?’ His authority doesn’t seem legitimate.’
Although these may seem like legitimate concerns, there are ways to cope with the situation and make the most of it without feeling undermined.
Treat Them As A Supervisor
It might be tempting to slide in your own credentials, and speak about how much you’ve achieved. Remember though, that’s not relevant here. Says Yumna Iqbal, a team lead at an IT firm, ‘Managers and team leaders are appointed for their abilities in executing a specific project, or because they’re the right fit for a company. Clearly, if they are in a supervisor’s role, it is because they have demonstrated certain skills that qualify them to be in that position. While most companies today favour a less hierarchical system of functioning, it is important for older employees to be professional and keep boundaries in place. In a world that constantly demands change, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, age and experience must not be the only benchmarks in taking your supervisor seriously.’
Focus On The Big Picture
Remember, every company works towards specific goals – creating quality products or services, generating profits, and ensuring client satisfaction. This can only be achieved when you are a team player and don’t view your younger boss as a potential threat. Create a successful working relationship with your supervisor and other team members so that you can ensure productivity. While boasting may not be appreciated, do not downplay your experience and knowledge wherever it is relevant, as it can help fulfill a task or project successfully. Respect the company's ecosystem and ensure that you are an active contributor to its success. Building empathy can help meet the expectations of your own role, and calibrate how you are going to work with your team helmed by a younger boss.
Speak To Your HR Or Counsellor If You’re Feeling Awkward
Sometimes, it helps to address the elephant in the room and get any awkwardness out of the way. If you have to work together for the foreseeable future, it is important to ensure a comfortable relationship where you thrive together. This requires a high level of emotional intelligence for the younger boss as well as the older worker. Older workers have to get used to taking orders, and younger bosses have to manage experienced employees differently. Speak to your Human Resources team or counsellor, so that they are able to create two-way programmes to facilitate this and sensitise all parties.
Keep An Open-Mind
Two or three decades ago, the idea of a younger boss would have been rare, if not inconceivable. There was a clear hierarchy, with older people climbing up in the ranks and making way for younger people to fill up junior positions. ‘Today, employees have to broaden their thinking to adapt to unconventional work structures,’ explains Yumna. ‘Ultimately, your boss is someone who can shape your career and influence growth and promotions. Since they’re from a later generation, they probably view the world differently from you and offer a fresh perspective. By keeping an open mind, there’s a lot you can learn from them.’
Celebrate Your Differences
Each employee brings different skill sets to the table. Perhaps a younger boss is able to harness technology more effectively, while an older worker can use problem-solving skills to their advantage. Either way, this is an opportunity for teams to offset each other’s different skills, so that each of them brings a different talent and growth mindset to the organisation.
Remember, it may feel peculiar at first to report to someone who’s your child’s age! With these few steps, you can ease the process and ensure productivity and growth for yourself as well as your organisation.