When She Had to Lead Someone Older Than Her

There is always going to be people with different abilities and skill sets in the room that can look very different and or mirror your personal skill set. However, the best position to be in, is when the experiences and skill set are different across the board because, getting to the goal is not what will set you apart but rather unite you in working together. The ability to meet each other at each person's skill set, learning and building upon both experiences and skill set builds trust, reliance and bonding because you both have the same goal; and there must be a partnership to get to that goal and get there together!

Trust and Human-Connection are pivotal in a situation where you're leading a team with years of experience, both in the workplace and in life. It's important to learn how they have been functioning before you got there, and remind them that you aren't there to change how they work, but to support and provide guidance with the changing times. This tactic goes a long way, trust me 😉

Leadership is not about you, but the people you respect and the people that respect you enough to be lead by you. Age brought more knowledge and more development to a team of leaders.

Leading people with more years of experience taught me that respect doesn't come from a title, it is earned through consistency, accountability, and a willingness to work beside your team. Trust grew when I honored what they brought to the table without shrinking my own authority as their leader.

I've learned that being a good leader starts with being a good listener. When someone on my team has more years of experience, I value their knowledge and expertise, learn from them, and use that experience to help me grow as a leader, while showing them that we are truly a team! At times, tenure is viewed as someone with a lack of fresh perspective, when it actually represents loyalty, adaptability, and a willingness to evolve. When you respect the experience people bring to the table, you earn their trust and create an environment where everyone can continue learning from one another.