Tips to my younger colleagues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me sad.

I'm a 40 something Director at a large agency and I love working with my junior staff. I work at a mostly male dominated organization and in the past 3-4 years we’ve gotten many more women in our agency. It has been so great to have more females interested in the field.

Also, no one is irreplaceable, eventually, just as I replaced my boss one of the people working for me will replace me. I plan on teaching them everything I learned and I hope they will one day surpass me.

THIS is the kind of manager whose surbodinates will enthusiastically ask "how high?" when she tells them to jump and will wipe her ass if she asks. Why? because she treats them with common decency.

OP, with your snooty Marissa Mayer wanna be attitude, you are a mere cog in the wheel, regardless of what your ego likes to tell you.

See, I think the OP is telling newer/younger staff to treat more senior colleagues with common decency--albeit in a blunt way. Have none of you ever worked with some young whippersnapper who doesn't "get it"? I love love love my staff who organize their questions for me instead of popping in and interrupting every five minutes, who check to make sure I have time (hint: I always make time for someone who asks), and who try to find the answer themselves ("I was wondering about X topic, and found the following--do you agree that this is what I should be pursuing?"). That is a much better question for a manager than "I was wondering about X topic, where should I look?" Obviously when someone is brand new you have to do more hand-holding, but I have worked with people who truly seem to take the path of least resistance. To me, they are not "team players."

I think the way the OP framed the question/discussion is what made it hostile. He/she assumed that YOUNGER stuff were the ones with this behavior. But the truth is, this is not just the behavior of young people you have OLD people in the workplace who are as useless as young ones. When you frame the question this way putting all the blame on the young workers , it just makes you look stuffy and no one wants to listen to you. And yes I am part of the workers who were born between 1980-2000 but I don’t think that affects my work in any way and that I am any less valuable than someone who was born in the 50s or 60s. You have lazy old workers and lazy young workers, that has nothing to do with age!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tip for my older colleagues -

Don't assume that just my being less experienced than you generally means that I know less than you across the board. Not all of us kids are useless. Me, I try to treat everyone respectful and be appropriately grateful if someone helps me out, no matter who that person is.

wow. are you 12?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tips for colleagues -
If I'm looking for something you know off the top of your head, why wouldn't I utilize you as a resource? Seems like a much better use of time if you're right there and I ask you for something/information.

Just a thought!

Because it makes you seem lazy.

No, it's a use of a good resource. If you don't think of yourself as a good resource for a younger colleague, you're a sourpuss and need to get over yourself. It doesn't do anyone any good to resource horde. Of course, if it's something the employee has specifically been given or shown how to do, that's different.
I'm the lowest on the totem pole and people ask me to find things ALL the time that are public information. They sometimes go, "wow, that was fast!" yes, it is the most recent press release on the Senator's web site, but since you're too old to know how the internet works (or you're on a powertrip and like tasking people), you had me find it. In the time it took you to tell me what you were looking for, old person, you could have already had it.

it works both ways!

With this attitude, you will stay on the lowest rung.

Are you the token hire?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't ask a more senior colleague for information you yourself can track down easily. It makes you look lazy, uninformed and like someone who doesn't realize her time is less valuable than her senior colleagues' time.

I agree with this somewhat BUT dont be one of those assholes who will not help out with a simple answer once in a while. Its just rude.

If you need me to approve something, prepare for it. In other words, read the company policy that concerns the issue. Discuss with your immediate management before bringing it to me.

PS - I get paid more because my time is more valuable. Only someone under 25 would think their time is as valuable as a vice president's.

I posted earlier in this thread. I'm neither 25 or 55, and am director-level. It would be great if our VP-level staff would actually read a three-sentence email thoroughly before responding with a question that is answered in the first line of said email. I'm sure their time is "more valuable" than anyone's, yet they waste an inordinate amount of everyone's time (and their own!) by being "too important" for just about everything.

Not accusing you of doing this. Just more of a general observation/rant.

OK, Joey, back to camp now, lunch is over. Be sure to wipe.

[Anonymous]

^That's nice, dear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tips for colleagues -
If I'm looking for something you know off the top of your head, why wouldn't I utilize you as a resource? Seems like a much better use of time if you're right there and I ask you for something/information.

Just a thought!

Because it makes you seem lazy.

No, it's a use of a good resource. If you don't think of yourself as a good resource for a younger colleague, you're a sourpuss and need to get over yourself. It doesn't do anyone any good to resource horde. Of course, if it's something the employee has specifically been given or shown how to do, that's different.
I'm the lowest on the totem pole and people ask me to find things ALL the time that are public information. They sometimes go, "wow, that was fast!" yes, it is the most recent press release on the Senator's web site, but since you're too old to know how the internet works (or you're on a powertrip and like tasking people), you had me find it. In the time it took you to tell me what you were looking for, old person, you could have already had it.

it works both ways!

With this attitude, you will stay on the lowest rung.

Are you the token hire?

Wow. I thought younger people were supposed to be less racist than the old fogies!

[Anonymous]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but how did racism enter this ageism discussion? Was it "totem pole"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tips for colleagues -
If I'm looking for something you know off the top of your head, why wouldn't I utilize you as a resource? Seems like a much better use of time if you're right there and I ask you for something/information.

Just a thought!

Because it makes you seem lazy.

No, it's a use of a good resource. If you don't think of yourself as a good resource for a younger colleague, you're a sourpuss and need to get over yourself. It doesn't do anyone any good to resource horde. Of course, if it's something the employee has specifically been given or shown how to do, that's different.
I'm the lowest on the totem pole and people ask me to find things ALL the time that are public information. They sometimes go, "wow, that was fast!" yes, it is the most recent press release on the Senator's web site, but since you're too old to know how the internet works (or you're on a powertrip and like tasking people), you had me find it. In the time it took you to tell me what you were looking for, old person, you could have already had it.

it works both ways!

With this attitude, you will stay on the lowest rung.

Are you the token hire?

Wow. I thought younger people were supposed to be less racist than the old fogies!

Nah, it's just a front they like to put up. They just as terrible inside as every other generation but haven't come to terms with it.

[Anonymous]

Whatever your age, learn to write really well. The ability to express yourself in clearly structured, grammatically correct, succinct and direct written style is one of the most important talents for advancement. I cannot believe the number of really poor writers I encounter across all levels of organizational hierarchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"That said, if you don't know public information is easy to find, I'm happy to have that skill make me look better. Because IT HELPS YOU WITH YOUR JOB just like if I don't know where something is, I ask you...and you help me. It's called teamwork. Even if I think your requests are stupid and show your lack of tech savvy, I happily do them. "

What about requests that demonstrate a lack of subject matter expertise?

We all get brain farts. OTOH, if someone's always doing that ...

And I guess you ladies just need to lean in some more. That'll solve all your problems.

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize (I know, big surprise) this would get ugly. I'm in a mentoring circle at my workplace and was hoping to see other tips I could offer to junior staff. A few I would actually suggest are to pay attention to the type of assignments you are given. I often give more responsibility slowly when it's demonstrated you can handle it. If you don't meet this I can't give you better projects. Also, manage up. Make my life easier and I will request you for my teams, and I will make sure you get projects that let you shine - and get you promoted.

[Anonymous]

This thread makes me sad.

I'm a 40 something Director at a large agency and I love working with my junior staff. I work at a mostly male dominated organization and in the past 3-4 years we’ve gotten many more women in our agency. It has been so great to have more females interested in the field.

Also, no one is irreplaceable, eventually, just as I replaced my boss one of the people working for me will replace me. I plan on teaching them everything I learned and I hope they will one day surpass me.

Yes! This thread makes me sad as well. I am also a 40 something Director and I love working with all my staff, younger or older. If someone needs help, my job is to help them. Do I get questions that I think the younger staff should be able to answer on their own? Sure. But they don't or can't or don't feel confident to do it on their own yet. So, I help. What I've learned from helping others is that when I need help, fixing an unexpected problem on a tight deadline, those younger workers I made time for will not hesitate to help me back.

As for tips specific to younger workers, the only one I have is, when you can, email or call to set up an appointment if you need help. Not because I'm terribly important or anything like that. While drop in is always welcome, if you need help I'd like to make sure you have the time you need and not be waiting around, trying to catch me in a spare moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't ask a more senior colleague for information you yourself can track down easily. It makes you look lazy, uninformed and like someone who doesn't realize her time is less valuable than her senior colleagues' time.

OP Provided a tip people. A very useful one. Which resulted in 6 pages of BS. Can't you people just file that away in "useful information that I may need" portion of your brain and say thank you? How do you people stay employed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:tip: If you can not bend over to pick something up, your dress is to short.

tip: don't schedule a meeting if I already have something on my calendar during that time

Don't schedule meetings at 8 AM or 4 PM. Unless it's an emergency. And really, it never is.

WTH not? 4 is too late for a meeting? Do you work for the federal govt or something? Our workday is 8 until 6:30 or 7. Can't imagine not having meetings at or after 4 pm.

No, in the private sector. Sucks for you though. No 11-hour days required here!

I get paid well to work those hours. Doesn't suck for me.

it does if you have kids . . .

[Anonymous]

Of course these are generalizations, and some of these are about any generation when they were in their 20's. But many of these things are what I picked up in this thread. And they are things that I've observed in the workplace. They clash with the Boomers and Gen Xers who believe you have to work your way to the top and and/or advancement is based on results.

What a crazy idea - that advancement depends on results!