Effective Ways On How To Work Successfully With A Younger Boss

It’s no secret that the longer you work, the more likely it is that you’ll eventually report to someone who’s younger than you are. And as more boomers push off retirement in response to a challenging economy or simply because they prefer to work, the younger boss-older subordinate phenomenon is becoming more common.

For many boomers, being supervised by someone young enough to be their son or daughter can be a tough pill to swallow. But the truth is that having a younger boss often has substantial benefits. Many boomers, for example, find that working under a younger supervisor expands their knowledge of technology and introduces them to different ways of analyzing situations and making business decisions.

So don’t get caught up in the feelings of resentment and self-pity that can frequently doom a younger boss-older subordinate relationship before it’s begun. With a little effort, you can make your working relationship with a younger boss pleasant, effective and mutually beneficial. Here are some tips to getting it right.

1. Manage your attitude:
 Keep in mind that you were once that brash young boss or rising star, full of clever ideas and new ways of doing things. So listen carefully to what the boss has to say and respect the title and position.“Go out of your way to show your willingness to try new approaches,”

2. Play to your strengths:
 “It’s important for the more experienced worker to try to focus on what he or she offers the employer,” says Miriam Salpeter, a job search consultant at Keppie Careers and author of a new free e-book, 5 Mistakes Job Seekers Make and How to Avoid Them. “For example, your maturity and experience helps you solve problems more quickly.” Offer to mentor younger workers.

3.Keep it Professional 
We acquire experience as we grow along and in the corporate setting it comes as we go through the career curves. Your boss who happens to be in his mid-20’s or early 30’s is still going through the curves of life be it at the personal or professional levels. Kindly keep you’re your relationship at the professional level, don’t get involved in their personal issues like relationship, child birth amongst others. Once in a while you can advise but it should be on a regular bases.
Also don’t assume the role of a parent in the office environment, don’t encourage calling names like mom, dad etc. This can affect work where you cannot play the professional role you are required to play. You are all professionals, so please act like it.
Age doesn't really matter once you hit adulthood. Don't get alarmed if your new boss is much younger than you are. Just do what you have been assigned to do and things will go well.

4.Document Everything and Be on Top of Issues 
Remember to document correspondence with your boss be it requests or criticisms so you can refer back to them if she ever contradicts him/herself.
When your boss asks you for something, get it in writing. You need to keep an excel tracker of all requirements as well as all other related activities you are assigned to undertake especially very official engagements. Some bosses prefer to give verbal instruction, kindly send a mail to seek clarity on all that was said verbally. Whenever you are in doubt, the emails are there as a references point. Also try as much as possible to remember very critical issues so you could provide answer on top of your head when need be. With this you only build trust and confidence with your boss.

5.Watch your Language 
Body language constitutes a major means of communication. It can be seen to be insulting when not done properly especially looking at what is been discussed and the issue at hand. Once posturing can infuriate his/her boss. Your choice of words can also mean a lot when dealing with a both, be careful with your choice of words. Also consider where and when you make your statements. We should be mindful of the following expressions;

 When I was your age.
 We used to do it this way.
 I've been doing this since before you were born.
 After you've been doing this as long as I have you'll see what I mean.

And anything similar to the above can be offensive. You don't want to draw attention to the age differences, and you don't want to act like you're superior because you're older. You may be superior.

6.Identify What Motivates Your Boss 
Identify what your boss likes, cares about and really motivates him/her. When things get difficult and there is heat in the office, use these tools to calm his/her nerves down whiles you work to achieve target. It will interest you to know that little things apart from money motivates our superiors. Build the confidence that you really have studied them and you know what motivates them to work.

7.Don’t Act Up 
If you're naturally cool - awesome - but don't try to behave like a 24-year-old when you're 40 plus. It comes across as unprofessional and can best be seen as unethical. Your true self will expose you one day, you can’t keep acting forever. We all live in the real world in which people are expected to mature as they get older. Acting up does not bring anything to the table. It only belittles you and portrays you as a sycophant.

There are different expectations for different people. As long as it doesn't affect your performance on the job or pay, let it go.