Get started instead of midlife crisis: 40+ successful as an employee

Our Society has succumbed to youth mania and one often hears that it is difficult to find jobs at 40+. Older and younger people can Employees complement optimally. 10 tips on how to do this.

Typical collaboration problem

old and Boy Employees could complement each other perfectly, but unfortunately there are often Problems from communicative misunderstandings to wrangling over competence. Everything could be so simple: Old hands and ambitious newcomers could meet in the Office really complement it perfectly. Unfortunately, the reality often looks different: Wrangling over competences, different ways of thinking and communicative misunderstandings lead to major problems. But how can this be avoided?

Unfortunately not an isolated case: Gerda is 63 and has been working in the for 45 years Company: Always polite to everyone what the Executive says is law and don't let anyone get too close to her carefully tidy desk. Above all, however, she is something like the clandestine information broker of the Company: If you want to know anything, ask Gerda!

Help, the new one is younger!

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And then that: The new colleague Beate, 29 and fresh from the Uni, constantly shouting loudly through the office, offers every colleague the familiar first name and wants to join Meeting profile by interrupting everyone. Gerda is extremely annoyed. However, she finds it particularly bad that Beate suddenly points her to errors I aufmerksam makes: "Here the calculation is not correct, you see...?", "Have you already obtained the offer from the supplier - the boss still wants it today?" Or even: “Your Presentation It was really horrible, but I'd love to show you how to do it."

But vice versa, Beate has big problems with Gerda's authoritarian demeanor, the distanced one Behavior and her constant nagging. Above all, however, it bothers her that Gerda withholds important information from her and lets her accuse her of complaints.

Scientific findings

No wonder that the collaboration between the two colleagues is problematic: Gerda and Beate belong to two generations that could hardly be more different. The detonator is practically pre-programmed. For a study, the research institute IPSOS surveyed more than 2400 workers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the Netherlands from four generations about their preferences and working habits. Result:

61 percent of older employees around 60 are more traditionalists, attach great importance to clear hierarchies and a personal, clear delimited workspace. The young colleagues up to 35, on the other hand, prefer flat hierarchies and rely on their own Workplace no value: They tend to work more informally and at changing places with informal: Only 27 percent from this age group would like a personal desk.

Accept peculiarities

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But the “middle” generations also have their peculiarities: a total of 50 percent of 45-50 year olds feel massively bothered by noise of all kinds at work. A third of younger colleagues between 35 and 45, however, are bothered by unsuitable room temperatures, while noises or ergonomics play no role. And every third colleague from this generation can hardly concentrate due to the lack of retreat options.

In addition to these different attitudes, misunderstandings in communication often also lead to discrepancies: Older colleagues, for example, are often less exuberant than younger ones and are therefore often perceived as less friendly by them. On the other hand, competitive thinking is particularly pronounced among the younger ones: among the older colleagues, they are notorious for being ambitious and opportunistic, and this behavior also reinforces them, especially in times of crisis Anxiety around the workplace.

Discrepancies - and how to bridge them

Because of such differences, every age group likes to be among themselves when it comes to maintaining social contacts. Basically, every generation sees itself more in competition with the younger than the older generations, but at the same time believes that it cannot learn anything from the young generation.

In contrast, the age group up to 45 in the Eyes of the other age groups as particularly friendly, cooperative and efficient. The somewhat older ones are seen as authoritarian, but also as exemplary and experienced.

Bridging misunderstandings

They pass on their know-how to the others. Because long-established traditionalists have a rather vague image in the sense of “less friendly or cooperative” and “less ambitious”.

But what can workers do to bridge these discrepancies? The most common answer that experts give to the question: talk to each other. Because the problems are often simply due to the fact that you simply do not understand the other person or cannot put yourself in the position of your colleague. But if you talk openly about fears and problems, you have the chance to solve them.

Old and young - How to work together harmoniously: 10 tips

Employees from different generations sometimes have problems understanding each other. Talking to each other can solve many conflicts. We'll show you what to look out for.

1. Don't rush ahead: Are you young, active and ambitious? It's nice! But even if you think you know something better, be diplomatic.
2. Beware with criticism: Even if it is meant well: Be careful with criticism, never express it in front of others. Many older employees are reluctant to say anything about the younger ones.
3. Respect distance zones: Older employees value their work area and you are polite and respectful.
4. Respect traditions: However, younger employees should also appreciate the knowledge and traditions of older employees.
5. Just no arrogance: Some older employees seem arrogant towards younger ones because they believe they have all the experience to themselves. Better check if you can not learn from others.
6. Be curious about new things: Instead of just insisting on what they have always done, be prepared to learn something new.
7. Praise! Especially older generations often have a hard time with praise. Just jump over your shadow and say a few friendly words to the younger employee. For those such gestures are self-evident.
8. Learn from each other: Older employees have more experience, younger employees are more familiar with the latest developments. Benefit from each other instead of working against each other.
9. Understand fears: Older employees are often afraid, younger people wanted to offer them. Younger employees are annoyed by the protection against dismissal that older employees often enjoy. Both are afraid for the job.
10. Talk to each other! Speak openly about fears and trust that the other person will do the same. Then you have a good chance of overcoming conflicts together.

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