Ask HR: How best can I supervise colleagues who are older than me?
What you need to know:
- Do not be intimidated by the older, more experienced team members.
- Always remember that you are the supervisor. Identify the skills gaps you have and consider acquiring some of those skills online.
I recently got a promotion to be a supervisor at my workplace. I am very excited about my new role, but my biggest concern is that I now play an oversight role over employees who are older than me and some who have more experience than I do. What is the best way to manage this situation?
Congratulations! Your manager must have identified good leadership qualities in you. Leverage on that and ensure you live up to expectations. Being a leader does not automatically mean you are more knowledgeable and experienced. It means you have the ability to bring the team together in pursuit of common goals, which are your organisation’s objectives.
The most frustrated leaders are those who assume they know everything and therefore never consult or consider other team members’ input. They always want to have their way.
Discuss with your team and agree on individual deliverables at the beginning of the year to avoid ambiguity during appraisal. Allow them to appraise themselves and to share their areas of strength and weakness, then build on their suggestions. Always start the discussions by highlighting positive performance, and then state the areas where improvement is required.
In your interactions, strive to get the employees’ points of view. That way, you will create a bond and a positive team spirit. Delegate tasks to the experienced team members and encourage them to lead projects. This will boost their egos and also to make them feel appreciated.
Depending on their areas of expertise, allow them to lead sections of meetings and other activities. Make sure you define boundaries, and clearly outline the deadlines. Appreciate your team publicly when they excel but when you need to reprimand someone, do it privately.
Word of caution, do not be intimidated by the older, more experienced team members. Always remember that you are the supervisor. Identify the skills gaps you have and consider acquiring some of those skills online. You could also get a leadership coach to challenge you in your leadership journey and to help you find solutions to the challenges you are facing. This will greatly boost your confidence.
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