You were promoted because you met all the necessary managerial requirements. You might have already worked as a manager, but always leading a team consisting of people of the same age group. You now have a new team with subordinates who are significantly older than you. Naturally, you feel uncomfortable managing them and would like to know how to get rid of this unpleasant feeling. Alison Green, the author of popular management tips on the Inuit Quickbase Blog, has some practical advice for such situations.
According to Green, young managers should realize that the people around them can see their uncertain or even awkward feeling towards older subordinates. The others could then start to feel uncomfortable and awkward, which would only make the atmosphere worse. The only way out is not to take the age difference into consideration at all, right from the beginning. In most cases, your age is a bigger problem for you than for your people. Remind yourself of why you are doing your job. If your employer believes in you, you should feel the same confidence. The following recommendations can help you.
Maintain a professional appearance and behavior
Dress and groom yourself according to what is accepted in your company regardless of age. When communicating with others, pay attention to your tone of voice or choice of words so that you do not show that you are insecure and inexperienced.
Behave in the same way to both younger and older employees
Joking with younger people and having a serious expression on your face when communicating with older people is wrong. The older subordinates would notice immediately that you behave differently to younger people. You would lose their respect and trust.
Do not force your authority too hard
Authority cannot be enforced. Rather, concentrate on collecting feedback that will help you find the right level of showing your authority. Solve any problems with older subordinates just like you would solve them with anyone else.
Fake it until you make it
It will naturally take a while for you to get used to managing older people. Until the time comes, pretend that you trust yourself and do not feel any uncertainty. Imagine how you would behave if it were really true. It will help you become really self-confident over time. Conscientiously hone your managerial skills and do whatever it takes to be a good manager.
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