When Your Boss Is The Same Age As Your Kid

So, you're no longer the young one on your team at work. Time speeds up so suddenly that after a decade or two, you find that you are working for or with others who are closer in age to your children than they are to you. And the longer you work, the more you will encounter working for younger managers. You can feel defensive and make others uncomfortable, or you can take some steps to make it easier on everyone, including yourself.

Take an inventory of your own appearance and consider changing an outdated style of dress or hair. You can't look 25 when you are over 50, but you can find a way to appear elegantly put-together. A little help from a personal shopper or hair stylist can go a long way.

Listen to your own give-away speak, such as "When I was your age... " and "I still like holding a real book and newspaper." While you don't have to mouth the lyrics to the newest song, you do have to pay some attention to current culture. Here are seven other ways to minimize the age-gap in the office:

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Comments

[Nikki Carlson]

05:11 PM on 01/11/2012

I like this. I had a hard time with it, the first time it happened, but somehow figured out how to do most of the things you suggest. But not all (#2). So thanks!

[authorized-user]

11:28 AM on 01/11/2012

Chronological age is in no way related to emotional age.
I know lots of older guys who can run rings around the 20-30 year olds when it comes to identifying opportunity, problem solving, coaching and team building.
Conversely, there are old timers that are set in their ways and have become dinosaurs.
Overall, when you lose the capacity to learn and adapt your are done.

[ginausa]

02:14 PM on 01/10/2012

I ran a business for years! I quit to stay home with our kids when our daughter was a baby and have been a stay at home Mom for 23 years! After my husband lost his job because of cut backs, I got a call from someone who saw my resume and this woman told me that it was 15 dollars an hour to answer the phone for this company and set appointments. She sounded like it was the greatest job on Earth and to hurry and set up an interview because they were filling up fast. So I set up the interview and met with this KID who was obviously new to the working world, was probably the same age or younger than my youngest child and was arrogant but nervous so he was stuttering and stammering through his speech. Half way through I realized their money offer was NOT 15 an hour but 15 dollars for every appointment you set up that ends in a sale. I stood up, told them this was NOT for me and left. I wasn't upset that everyone there was a kid compared to me or that I could have run that place with my eyes closed... I was upset that they told me it was 15 AN HOUR which was an out right lie. The place closed down a few months ago so why they were trying to hire people last year is beyond me.

[Adele Scheele]

02:32 PM on 01/10/2012

Scams aren't age-related. Ginausa, you did well to trust your instinct and leave
before they folded! I hope you have found something worthwhile...

We always have to make our luck happen.
Adele

[bluefalcon06]

05:13 PM on 01/10/2012

There will always be a better job opportunity out there, for you. Right now, it may be few and far in between, but they are out there. Maybe you can find another job in a management position. Being a younger person in a leadership position can be pretty intimidating, especially when they talk to an older person with more life and work experience. Many are arrogant or on power trips, because they are new at what they do, so they think they are better than everyone else. I am 24, an E-5 in the Navy, so that is a supervisor pay grade, so they look after E-4s and below. So, when an E-4 or below works for me, who may be older, I always give them the respect they deserve, because they have life experience on me and may be able to teach me a thing or two.

[Simple E Anonymous]

01:15 PM on 01/10/2012

#1 is completely backwards. Learning to speak the language is the job of the good manager, not the good employee.

[Adele Scheele]

02:33 PM on 01/10/2012

I agree and more: it's up to both sides!

Cheers,
Adele

[forrestr]

01:12 PM on 01/10/2012

My boss is younger than my eldest daughter. But I know and respect his position. He's the boss and I am the employee. What I found really interesting is that he hired me because of my age. He says that he will be calling on and using my experience. I am honored to be working for him.

[Adele Scheele]

02:35 PM on 01/10/2012

Your boss is unique, Forrestr, and has set up a win-win situation.
I'm sure you'll deliver for him and the rest of the team. Thanks for
sharing this.

Cheers,
Adele

[bluefalcon06]

05:14 PM on 01/10/2012

That's a good thing.

[mielkele]

01:07 PM on 01/10/2012

It's even more interesting when your doctor looks like your grandson/daughter.

[Adele Scheele]

02:37 PM on 01/10/2012

Hi Mielkele,

I have been hearing so much about searching for younger doctors
who are knowledgable and will not retire just when you need them most...

It comes with the aging territory!

Cheers,
Adele

[phdpamela]

12:47 PM on 01/10/2012

Sorry, I draw the line at tinting my hair pink, and flaunting a nose piercing.

[Adele Scheele]

02:38 PM on 01/10/2012

Me too!

[petpetdonna]

11:39 AM on 01/10/2012

Experience beats youth everyday of the week.

[mielkele]

01:08 PM on 01/10/2012

Not always.

[Adele Scheele]

02:42 PM on 01/10/2012

I agree with you and have studied what it takes for that successful combination of mastery
and fresh outlooks for the critical mentor/protege relationship to pay off -- professionally and personally.

Thanks for your comment.

Adele

[Bob McEntyre]

11:28 AM on 01/10/2012

If Newt get elected,a 13 years old kid will be your boss.He wants to replaced grown men who are trying to raise and feed a family with the man's son for minimun wages.This is the new America.

[invmartyc]

11:13 AM on 01/10/2012

Wait until he fires you just before you can retire! Just cause you are old and make too much money, or at least more than a new person just starting out! He will get a big bonus for saving the company money even though the company will lose money because your boss and replacement don't know what they are doing! Years of experience means nothing anymore.

[Adele Scheele]

02:45 PM on 01/10/2012

Hi Invmaryc,

Firing employees who can be replaced with younger and cheaper workers, especially just before they can retire and reap their pension has become such a wretched situation. You're right: the loss is unbearable.

Adele

[irishkids1234]

10:33 AM on 01/10/2012

These young ones with be old in due time.....there will be payback

[jokerdano]

10:08 AM on 01/10/2012

I'm 60 and I have young bosses, women bosses and my coworkers are lot younger then me. But I have the advantage. When the boss tells me something I already know what he or she wants of me. My coworkers LOL I work with both hands. They work with one hand and the other hand is holding the cell phone or their smoking every 15 minutes. I'm a blue collar worker.

[Adele Scheele]

02:47 PM on 01/10/2012

HI Jokerdano,

I love your line, "I work with both hands." It means so much! And, your anticipation of what your boss needs is critical to getting the work done. I hope your boss appreciates and rewards you!

Cheers,
Adele

[jnsburke7]

10:04 AM on 01/10/2012

I retired after 40 years on the job and the last year I worked my boss was one year younger than my son.

[vanguard3006]

09:42 AM on 01/10/2012

Yes, be up-to-date on the younger generation. Forget that, who wants to be like them, talk like them, act like them. omg in my book is immature and disrespectful. The young generation is the "entitled" generation, spoiled and lazy and most climb the ladder by butt-kissing. The reason the young generation feel "entitled" is because of the parents, it all trickles down to credit, when America started giving credit to anyone that is what creates entitlement. Like Clint Eastwood said, "The days were better when you are able to buy what you can afford with your hard-earned money, if you couldn't afford it, you couldnt get it." I found that most people 20 or younger are lazy, slacking free-loaders that drive mommy and daddy's bmw to work.

[irishkids1234]

10:34 AM on 01/10/2012

True more often than not

[yaya2em]

12:24 PM on 01/10/2012

Well said Vanguard , well said. I had a manager that was in his late 20's. I am in my 50's. We clashed. He was rude, overbearing and cocky. He refused to listen to his older staff who had been doing the job collectively for 50+ years. It got so bad we raised Hell. He's calmed down quite a bit. These young kids ( my 31 year old included) call in sick if they sneeze, spend time on facebook and texting - all when they are at work. AND if they get reprimanded - they get mad and quit.

[Clarity22]

09:06 AM on 01/10/2012

I was the oldest person in my department and the most fun. I think it's how you view situations. My boss was younger than me but that was not an issue with me.

[Adele Scheele]

02:52 PM on 01/10/2012

Hi Clarity,

I agree totally with you. It all depends on how you frame the situation. No wonder you did not have a problem with a younger boss or the reverse.
Thanks for commenting...

Adele