How to Deal With a Younger Boss

Whether you’re reentering the workforce after an extended leave or relocating to a different company, a new workplace can often come with unexpected challenges. Not all companies will have the culture you’re accustomed to, including a boss who may be a few years – or a whole generation – younger than you. Overcome your differences and find common ground with these tips. 

Don’t generalize. Chances are you have your own views on the generation that came after yours – that they don’t possess a strong work ethic, that they lack authority, or that they don’t take their job seriously – but don’t let those stereotypes influence how you view your boss. If she rose to the company CFO at only 27, she clearly has a good head on her shoulders and is very driven. Don’t assume you know anything about her beyond that.

Treat your boss like any other. When you first started your career, you likely looked to your boss with admiration, respect, and perhaps even a tinge of fear at the power he possessed. Though your new boss may have been born in a different decade, it doesn’t mean she is any less deserving of your respect. Continue to address her in a formal manner (unless told otherwise), don’t spread gossip about her in the office, and never challenge her authority. 

Be open to change. The worst thing you could say in a new office? “That isn’t how we used to do it.” You may have once worked for a prestigious company, but your new boss is likely ahead of her time, so trust her judgment. If you are uncomfortable with Skype meetings rather than face-to-face ones, approach your boss about the subject. You may want to voice your concerns about this new approach, but also assure her that you are on board and willing to learn. She will appreciate your honest feedback, as well as the fact that you are cooperating with her decisions. 

–Lindsay Putnam