How to Manage a Direct Report Who Is Older Than You

When Catherine H. became a manager at a Midwest manufacturing firm at 29, one of her new direct reports was a 58-year-old engineer named Bob who had been with the company for 30 years. In this episode of New Manager Conversations, Lucas and Luna unpack the specific challenges of managing someone older than you — including how to avoid the 'prove yourself' trap, when to lean on their institutional knowledge, and why directness about roles beats politeness every time. Drawing on Catherine's real experience (and some research on age-diverse teams), they offer three concrete tactics: ask for their advice on company history, set boundaries on decision authority without micromanaging, and create a shared definition of success on your first project together. Plus: a short sidebar on how the show stays ad-free. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader navigating intergenerational teams, this episode delivers actionable insight. #Careers #NewManager #Leadership #YoungManager #ManagingOlderEmployees #WorkplaceDynamics #Credibility #Trust #Respect #EmotionalIntelligence #First90Days #Authority #CareerAdvice #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ManagementTips #ProfessionalGrowth #IntergenerationalWorkplace Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo