How do I manage my young boss?
对付自以为是的年轻上司
(The Problem)
I have recently acquired a new boss who is 32. I am 20 years older and consider myself more experienced, better educated and more intelligent than him. He has hare-brained ideas and to my disgust all my colleagues are kowtowing to him. I fear I may already have alienated him by pointing out that some of his schemes won’t fly. How can I manage this whippersnapper?
Manager, male, 51
(THE ANSWER)
Before I tell you what I think of your problem, I should warn you that most FT readers under 40 (a few over 40) hold you in contempt. According to their e-mails, you are a ghastly old git in denial that someone better than you is now your boss.
Like most of the FT’s older readers, I don’t think you are a ghastly git at all. In fact, I can easily imagine feeling the same way myself.
Having someone 20 years younger as a boss is hard – it is the final confirmation that you are way over the hill, and it is quite reasonable that one should mind about that. In a politically correct office we are expected to be age-blind, but age remains a big part of where we feel we fit into a hierarchy and it is silly to pretend otherwise. What is happening to you will come to us all, and we will all have to learn to put up with it – but that doesn’t make it pleasant.
As for the supposed uselessness of your young boss, I can believe he is less experienced and more ignorant than you. Many of his generation are. However, he may have other qualities that make him a better manager – or he may not. It wouldn’t be the first time a fool got over-promoted.
Still, whether or not he actually deserves the job is beside the point. You have been foolish to offend him, and you must row back sharpish.
As I can’t see you landing a peachy job outside, you can either stick it out gracefully or become a grumpy nuisance. The latter would be silly because it will put your job at risk, and because by obsessing about him you’ll end up bitter and boring – an old git, in fact.
Without kowtowing, you should concentrate on doing your own job well. The passing of time will help, and not just because it will get you nearer to a pension, which I assume is your end game. His schemes may get less hare-brained, and you will slowly get used to the shocking sight of his fresh face.
A final point: the word whippersnapper is a favourite of mine. It is deliciously evocative. My advice that I give with lingering regret: avoid.
OLD GIT 1
It seems to me you’re just jealous of his success. I’m young myself and very intelligent, but have already learnt that there will always be someone brighter and younger than me. I can live with that and I’m surprised that you, in your 50s, cannot.
Banker, male, 23
OLD GIT 2
Every word you use screams “obnoxious, negative employee with no contribution to offer”. Your company clearly has good reason to promote someone 20 years younger over you. Either you change your attitude and contribute to the success of your team by humbly offering any wisdom your extra 20 years have given you, or get out before you are fired for your shockingly negative attitude.
CIO, male, 40s
AGEIST GIT
Imagine if your boss was someone of a sex, race or religion for whom you found it difficult to work. Substitute “whippersnapper” for your chosen sexist or racist epithet and then imagine how many job interviews you can cram into your sudden abundance of free time.
Banker, male, 43
HELP HIM SUCCEED
You are not a team player, you are difficult to manage and you have a bad attitude. Either give your boss the benefit of the doubt or find a new job.
Manager, female, 27
HELP HIM FAIL
Support all his ideas to the hilt. That way he’ll come a cropper sooner. The more unobtrusively you do it, the better – you won’t be implicated when he finally overreaches, but will be better placed when he goes down.
Academic, female, 40s
MAKE THE BEST OF IT
I am the same age as you and in a siar stuation. Our promotion prospects are finished, so we must swallow our pride and defuse our ambition. Tell your boss you’ll be loyal. Work for him in areas where he is weak – he’ll take the credit, but he’ll defend you as he needs you. You can enjoy your life without the stress of managerial bureaucracy.
