Bossing Your Elders

At the elder end of my life, I can look back on the challenges of being promoted to a manager position in my twenties. For most of my career, I managed people older than I was. For about half that time, my age caused consternation. I didn't feel too young to be a manager, but the people significantly older took some time to become accustomed to the disparity.

Age is not a qualification for management; however, the experience that comes with age is usually valuable. Acknowledge that you will rely on the experience of others. When you find yourself rejecting the advice of experience, handle your relationship with your subordinate with care and respect.

• Announce or present your decision in positive language that shows how things will move forward.
• Unless the situation requires it, do not identify the rejected advice or your reasons for not accepting the advice. You have the right to make decisions on your own, preferably after considering many inputs.
• If asked by anyone why the advice was not accepted, give a clear, short answer while focussing on your decision. Avoid any appearance of a lecture about pros and cons.
• Continue to ask for and consider advice from more experienced individuals in a spirit of collaboration.