How To Manage Older Workers
June 26th, 2009
Older workers are becoming a crucial component of the labour force as employers continue to battle a skills shortage. But these older staff members can be a management challenge. Managers must create a climate in which older workers will remain engaged and productive. Here’s How:
Throw out all your assumptions. Get rid of your stereotypes. Your older workers are just like everyone else in your group. Treat them as such.
Communicate, communicate, communicate. Don’t assume the older worker knows what you expect of them. They don’t have the same background as you. Be very clear what you want done and what the measurements of completion and of success will be.
Value their life experience. Your older workers have seen a lot. They have done a lot. Learn from this experience and encourage other staff to do so as well.
Train them. Don’t forget your older workers need training as much as younger workers - just as much, just as often.
Motivate them. Older workers have different motivational “hot buttons” than their younger counterparts. Opportunity for advancement is probably less important than the recognition of a job well done.
You don’t have to “be the boss.” The older workers grew up in a hierarchical society. They know you are the boss. Don’t waste time posturing. It won’t impress them anyway. They’ve seen it all before.
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