What happens when you are managing

What happens when you are managing an employee who has more years that you do in the workforce or within the industry? What is your opinion of them? Do you see them as important members of your team, or view them from the old school and not up to current business knowledge or technology? It's important that you be honest with yourself because your perception of that individual affects how you treat them. How you respond to an employee will affect their productivity, which in turn affects your business.

So how can you motivate an "older worker?"

An older worker's needs are similar as well as different from other generations:

Similiarities

-Maintain consistent communication around what you expect from them and how you will support them in meeting these requirements.

-Create a learning environment so they can continue to be productive in the business.

-Quickly handle conflict to minimize morale issues.

-Provide a healthy dose of appreciation for what they bring to the table.

In addition, respect is important for all your team members but especially for the "older worker." They want to know that you value their work knowledge.

-If you have an older worker who challenges you because they been in the field longer than you...don't get defensive. Instead, focus on providing them with direction, along with a healthy dose of appreciation.