07 May How to Manage a Team Older Than You?

“Being hesitant and nervous on an on-going basis is a sure-fire way to kill your authority and respect with your older employees.”-Kevin Weir

The importance of managers in a business organization cannot be overlooked. They are responsible for a range of activities, without which the business would undoubtedly collapse. They develop strategies, get the necessary approvals, coordinate with the team, and then work on its successful implementation. It is not an easy task to manage a team of employees who are vastly different from each other. It is even more difficult when the manager is much younger than the team. In that case, the manager has to often double the efforts to obtain satisfactory results.

It is important for the manager to bond with the team, irrespective of the age. For the company to flourish and attain new heights of success, collective cooperation is extremely essential. It ultimately falls on the manager to make sure that there are no disgruntled members in the team. Often, pressure and insecurities plague the young minds. It is natural but has to be overcome to secure your position as a manager and to assert your authority. The need to be liked must not surpass your need to be respected. Regardless of the fact, your team, likes you or not, they must in no way disrespect your authority, while they are always free to provide constructive feedback and inputs. Competence is the key, along with healthy amount of confidence and compassion.

Offer Respect, Recognize their Efforts, and Listen to your Team

“Listen rather than assuming you know the best.”-Cheryl Eaton

The awkwardness that permeates the office atmosphere due to your young age is going to remain for some time. After you have accepted this, you can move forward with ease. When you are younger than your team, you must earn their respect. Your position as their manager clearly indicates that you have more knowledge, but with age, comes experience. You have to respect that and use it to your advantage. Corporate experience is priceless, and you can gain it by offering your team respect. It is quite clear that older employees often have a prejudice against the young. Their impression of you may not be favorable to you, and they expect you to be arrogant and dominating. Prove them wrong. Offer respect and be humble, without being a push-over!

Being the manager of your team does not mean that you know every aspect of the work. It is crucial that you recognize and praise your team for their efforts diligently. You must be prepared to complement them when they solve complex challenges. This will instill a sense of accomplishment and make them appreciate you. It is also essential that you listen to what they have to say. In a meeting, be assertive but don’t go overboard and act like a dictator. You must remember that the aim can only be achieved if your team co-operates with you on every level. Also, accept the fact that you don’t have the experience they have amassed over the years. Listen to what they have to say carefully instead of dismissing it without a single thought. You can only get respect when you offer the same.

Establish a Strong Bond with the Team Members

Being a young manager to a team that is comparatively older than you is daunting. It is futile to command respect from the employees that are well versed with the corporate world. You have more chances to garner respect rather than demanding it. It is crucial that you develop strong a bond with your team. Establishing such bonds will help you in ways more than one.

You can do this by asking about their family, what they like to do in their free time, etc. Devote time to know them on a personal level. You don’t necessarily have to be best friends, but you must be friendly enough to avoid the hostile atmosphere that is toxic for the productivity of the business. You can organize an event and invite them. Make them feel that they are part of a family and watch how they work diligently and earnestly for you. Also, make efforts to know what they don’t like and avoid that. It is also important to respect boundaries.

Be Humble and Admit your Mistakes

“Confront issues, establish expectations, and hold people accountable.” -Dough Brown

Being at a younger age than your team can bring in a world of a dilemma for you. You want to be respected but not viewed as dominating. You must be humble and acknowledge the fact that your team has more experience than you. When you suggest strategies that are not completely aligned with the views of your team, be humble but assertive. They must not perceive you to be weak. This could lead them to think that you are a push-over. This is dangerous as some degree of hierarchy is often essential for the smooth functioning of the team, and thereby, the business as a whole. They can question you but with respect.

It is also common for a young manager to commit mistakes. It is imperative that you admit to those mistakes instead of shifting the blame on others which will cause resentment. When you admit your mistakes, you are showing signs of maturity. You are teaching your team to admit mistakes even if it is hard to do so. By admitting to mistakes, you also create an environment where your team can feel comfortable in admitting their mistakes and move on.

Conclusion

Managing a team that is older than you is not an easy feat. But, with considerable effort and patience on your part, you can create professional atmosphere. Needless to say, you have to be the one making most of the efforts even though your position and power is more than your team. The most effective way to cooperate and work diligently towards a specific goal is to garner respect and establish authority without being labeled as a dictator. It is important that you make your team members feel valued and appreciate their hard work. Successful managers are often those who overcome the most complex obstacles without cowering to the pressure and stress.