Bold School Lesson 2: When the boss is young enough to be your kid ~ INFO IMAGES

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Approach life after 50 with curiosity and enthusiasm.

(Alla Dreyvitser/The Washington Post)

By Suzette Moyer

Lesson 2: When the boss is young enough to be your kid

Before I accepted my job at The Post, I made a list of pros and cons as I've done for every previous job that I had considered. Pros included a higher salary, professional growth and a more stable news environment. Cons included leaving sunny Florida, friends and my comfort zone.

Circled between the columns was one question: Could I work for a boss who was 12 years my junior?

I had worked for younger bosses before, but now I was 50. What if I didn't fit in? What if I couldn't keep up with the young digital hotshots on the team? What if they knew I dyed my roots?

My career in newspapers started 30-plus years ago. The industry was thriving, and there was no Internet. I met my husband in the business in 1989, and together we worked in four newsrooms in four states. Come 2015, I was stepping into my umpteenth newsroom to work for someone with less experience than me and in a different phase of life. He had two small children; my kids were adults. I had already been through Little League, school plays and summer camps.

I'm part of a large group of baby boomers who work for younger bosses. By 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects, people who are 55 and older will make up a quarter of the work force — and number more than 40 million. Many of those workers will be reporting to millennials, some young enough to be their sons or daughters.

Since I arrived at The Post, I've found that my boss respects my work, and I value the feedback and advice he gives me. There are also times he comes to me for problem-solving because of my experience.

But some of my over-50 friends have experienced ageist attitudes from their colleagues or managers: You're close to retirement age, so you'll be bypassed for opportunities. You can work later since your children are grown. Shouldn't you be the boss at this point in your career? You're a dinosaur!

For those struggling or trying to avert any problems, Kerry Hannon, career expert and author of Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness, has this advice:

Make it mutual. Your experience demands respect, but remember that it's a two-way street. Your boss got their job for a reason, too, but they still might feel threatened or insecure about managing someone that has more experience than them.

Project vitality. If you bring energy and spirit to the job, people will want to work with you. They'll want your positive vibe. They'll see that they can learn from you. Ask for new assignments. If your boss thinks you're a dinosaur, prove him or her wrong.

Talk it out. If you sense tension in the office, let your boss know how you feel. It could be a simple miscommunication. Many younger workers prefer texts to emails, phone calls and face-to-face dialogue, and often expect an instantaneous response. Many older workers are just the opposite. Recognizing that difference is the first step to bridging it.

Keep your options open. Stay in touch with others in your field. You might decide that you and your boss are a bad fit and it would be best for you to move on.

Work advice expert Karla Miller, who writes a weekly column for The Washington Post, adds this: "My advice for age-divergent colleagues is the same as for anyone anticipating conflict with a new boss or direct report: Ask yourself what strengths you see in this person, and then ask what strengths you have that complement them. Innovation and creative energy need to be grounded by perspective and practical experience."

Your assignment

Write down three things you've learned from your boss. Then jot down three pieces of wisdom you know they'll learn from you.

Tell us

Have you felt insecure about working for a younger boss? If so, how have you dealt with those insecurities? Has working for someone younger than you been rewarding? Stressful? Submit your response to be featured in Friday's newsletter here.