{"id":4487,"date":"2015-04-04T08:36:02","date_gmt":"2015-04-04T12:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4487"},"modified":"2015-04-04T08:36:02","modified_gmt":"2015-04-04T12:36:02","slug":"book-excerpt-tips-for-working-for-a-younger-boss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4487","title":{"rendered":"Book Excerpt: Tips for Working for a Younger Boss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"next-ave\"<\/a>Here\u2019s one thing I know (and the\u00a0new AARP Policy Institute survey<\/a> of older workers<\/a> who faced unemployment in the past five years backs me up): If you\u2019re over 50 and job hunting, it\u2019s brutal out there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


\nThere are plenty of explanations, but ageism is the overarching stumbling block. Among the worries some employers have about older applicants is that they\u2019ll resent reporting to a younger boss<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And, frankly, you might.<\/p>\n

(MORE<\/strong>: Surviving a Young, Abusive Boss<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The secret to making this relationship work is mutual respect. Age is immaterial if you appreciate that even if your boss is decades younger than you, he or she likely earned that position due to impressive skills and talents.<\/p>\n

READ ON PBS NEXT AVENUE<\/a><\/strong>
\nIn my new book, Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness<\/em><\/a>, I offer the following 10 tips on working for a younger boss effectively and happily. I hope you find them helpful.<\/p>\n

1. Manage your attitude.<\/strong> 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<\/a> and respect the title and position.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo out of your way to show your willingness to try new approaches,\u201d says Beverly Jones, an executive career coach in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Also, quiet the condescending tone in your voice. How you treat someone, even subliminally, generally is reflected back at you. Says Jones: \u201cReframe your thinking, and regularly repeat a positive reminder to yourself, like \u2018He\u2019s the boss. I\u2019ll figure out what he wants and needs, and I\u2019ll give it to him.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

(MORE<\/strong>: Technologies Boomers Need to Learn<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Love<\/a>2. Talk about the elephant in the room<\/strong>.<\/em> Younger bosses<\/a> may wonder if you\u2019ll have a tough time reporting to someone their age. They could be concerned that you\u2019re not willing to try new approaches, not up to snuff with technology and might lack the grit to do the job. Tell yours why he or she shouldn\u2019t worry. Better yet, show it. You could forward an article to your boss that you think is cutting edge with a note that you ran across it via one of your social media platforms.<\/p>\n

3. Play to your strengths. <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s important for the more experienced worker to try to focus on what he or she offers the employer,\u201d says Miriam Salpeter, a job search consultant at Keppie Careers<\/a> and author of a new free e-book, 5 Mistakes Job Seekers Make and How to Avoid Them. <\/em>\u201cFor example, your maturity and experience helps you solve problems more quickly.\u201d Offer to mentor younger workers.<\/p>\n

(MORE:<\/strong> How to Exude Energy at Work<\/a>)<\/p>\n

4. Keep an upbeat attitude.<\/strong> \u201cIf you\u2019ve ever managed other people, you know it can be hard work,\u201d says Michelle Hynes, a career coach in Portland, Ore. \u201cYour supervisor will love you if you\u2019re one of the people who makes it easy \u2014 and even fun.” Genuinely wanting a win-win situation for you and your boss will go a long way. Says Hines: \u201cAsk yourself: How can I be a good partner?\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Get hip to texting. <\/strong>A younger manager will probably want to communicate with you via e-mail or, better yet, text message <\/a>rather than through face-to-face chats or the phone. Don\u2019t resist.<\/p>\n

Prepare for less face time.<\/strong> For many younger managers, time spent in the office is not as vital as the results you produce. So your well-honed work ethic of being an early bird at your desk might not impress. The new regime may look more favorably on teleworking, especially if you can get more work done by not cooling your heels in rush-hour commutes.<\/p>\n

Get acquainted with Web-based applications<\/a>\u00a0like Cisco WebEx, Google+ Hangouts, GoToMeeting, Join.me and TeamViewer. If you haven\u2019t tried it at work, get comfortable by trying these platforms with someone outside the office.<\/p>\n

7. Note your latest achievements.<\/strong> \u201cLet go of the past,\u201d Jones says. \u201cIt\u2019s great to feel pride for accomplishments in past years, but know that you get no points for them in today\u2019s workplace. Your boss is focused on current challenges and wants to know regularly how you\u2019re helping to address today\u2019s problems and tomorrow\u2019s goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Steer away from age-centric comments<\/a>.<\/strong> Avoid suggesting that something younger managers do is similar to something your adult children are doing or bringing up what you were doing when you were their age. And skip the chitchat about your personal life that dates you. For example, Salpeter says, \u201cThere\u2019s no need to bring up the fact that you\u2019re expecting your third grandchild.”<\/p>\n

9. Keep your skills current.<\/strong> If you\u2019ve recently updated any software certifications or are proficient in social media, let your boss know. Ask to take advantage of retraining opportunities and if you can take an online course or weekend workshop that will pump up your performance.<\/p>\n

Says Jones: \u201cA young boss may assume that an older worker is resistant to change. Show it ain\u2019t so.\u201d<\/p>\n

10. Don\u2019t act old.<\/strong> Pay attention to what comes out of your mouth. Do you persistently complain about your achy back or remind folks how things were handled back in the day? If so, you\u2019re<\/em> the one making age an issue.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t physically fit<\/a>, make that a priority and eat healthfully. When you\u2019re in shape and feel good about yourself, you have a certain vitality and oomph that people want to be around, regardless of your age. It subtly says, \u201cI\u2019m up for the job, bring it on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Excerpted with permission of the publisher, Wiley, from <\/em>Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness<\/a> by Kerry Hannon. Copyright (c) 2015 by Kerry Hannon. AARP is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. This book is available at all bookstores and online booksellers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Small<\/p>\n

Kerry Hannon has covered personal finance for Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report and USA Today for nearly three decades. She’s the author of Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness<\/a><\/em>; What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job<\/a>; Great Jobs for Everyone 50+<\/a> and Suddenly Single: Money Skills for Divorcees and Widows<\/em><\/a>. Her website is\u00a0kerryhannon.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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