page 5: The politics of being young on the job— managing the kid boss
For any employee, the key to good workplace relationship is trust. To accomplish a mutually beneficial relationship, here are some suggestions for workplace harmony for all generations.
Start by listening to what the other is saying. Listening is sometimes just as important as doing, and people who are doing the talking will greatly appreciate you for it.
Acknowledge the accomplishments of your boss. It may be a simple, “good idea” or “the meeting went well” but letting someone know that they’ve done a good job makes them view you with profound appreciation which is likely to be reciprocated.
Ask for help when you don’t know how to handle a situation. There is nothing more flattering than being asked for someone’s advice.
Recognize and respect your differences in age. Even if your young boss has a style of dress and speech that is less deferential than yours, respect it and appreciate it— differences are what make new ideas happen. The manager with a penchant for indie-rock can just as well respect you for your immense love of the Beatles.
Speak up if something is bothering you. Trust is best built on open communication so if there is an idea that you want to share, don’t be shy. Even if it’s not always received and implemented, a boss of any age will appreciate the initiative you take in helping the company grow its bottom line.
Learn from each other because as much as you have the years on your young boss, he or she will likely have some new ways to resolving an issue. When you look around, the workplace is filled with learning opportunity from every colleague, boss and CEO. And who can’t do with a little more education?
For more articles from Ji Hyun Lee, please check out:
The Politics Series: The Politics of Facebook Friend Requests from Your Colleagues | The Politics of being a Woman on the Job: Why can't we all just get along? | The Politics of Being Young on the Job: Managing the Kid Boss
The Lists: Five Signs that Your Good Looks are Working Against You | Five Ways to Battle the Office Backstabber | Ten Signs that You Might be a Difficult Employee
The 101 Info Series: Bosses 101: What makes someone a bad boss? | Office romance 101: When is it a do and a don't?
Everything in between:Tips for managing the Millennial Generation | When You're Smarter than the Boss | Knowing When to Speak Up and When Not to |Equal Work, Unequal Pay: What to do if You're the Victim of Gender Discrimination
Do you need advice dealing with awful coworkers, bosses and other workplace issues? Find the author on Twitter @JiHyun42 or email, jihyunnyc@gmail.com, and tell her all about it. You could be featured in an upcoming article!
Comments
This is great! There's so much disparaging about the new generations as they enter the work place! Often, their new ways and ideas really inject the workplace with much needed vigor! Every "age" group has their pluses and minuses! More focus should be on the benefits! Great series!
This is a good article, but why do the "Next page" links all open in a new window? Very annoying.
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