Managing Senior/Older employees?

Anonymous

I'm launching a project on which I will be the Project Manager. I am considerably younger than the Sr. Technical Architect and the Lead Engineer. This will be my first role as Projet Manager. I need to rely on my senior leads for technical information, but I would love some hints on how to gain their respect as a manager while relying on them so heavily with technology decisions.
Thanks for the help!!

Posted: Oct 10, 2000 9:15 AM

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ED YOUNGBERG Ocean Isl Bch, Nc, United States

When managing senior people, much will depend on your skills and how you treat your team members. Management can be viewed as consistently and fairly dealing with people who work on your project. It should not matter how old or experienced you are if you demonstrate competency in your field. The rest is just respect and consideration for your fellow project members.

Posted: Oct 10, 2000 1:24 PM

Michael Wood Project Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent Contractor Gig Harbor, Wa, United States

Being a bit senior myself at 50 I hope I can shed some light on your challenge. Don't kid yourself, senior staffers might look at you with a jaundice eye. So don't try to impress them with your brilliance. Instead, seek their advice and insights on issues where their tenure has provided them wisdom. Your ability to seek advice can earn you great credibility. Some of us old timers will reach out to help, others might find it interesting to watch you stumble along. Watch for passive resistance and subtle sabbotage of your efforts. By the way, if you are over 30, you could have a credibility gap with high-tech 20 something team members too. Afterall, we are all juniors to some and seniors to others. :-}

Posted: Oct 14, 2000 9:02 AM

Frank Patrick Boonton, Nj, United States

As another "senior" approaching his semi-centennial birthday, I'll jump in with a few words on the topic.

Integrity, respect, honesty, modesty, humor, tolerance, openness, and patience.

Pretty much the same way one would deal with a freshly minted college graduate whose "respect as a manager" you are trying do attain. You do your work. Let them do their work. Deal with conflicts in an open, objective manner.

Do unto others as . . . you know the rest.
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Posted: Oct 19, 2000 9:19 PM

RAJESH K L Project Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, India Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Any latest update on this topic?

Posted: Jul 20, 2018 10:58 PM

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Managing Senior/Older employees?

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