Being Led and Managed by a Boomer Boss
While you’re letting the concept of the changing of the guard soak in from the previous chapter, we’ll share some very important tips on being led and managed by Boomers in this chapter. After all, the Boomers have been leaders in business, education, and government for many years now and they, along with Gen Xers, should have some wisdom to share with the younger Gen Y on the matter. So we will start with some Boomer boss basics.
The first time you will typically encounter your Boomer boss will be in the interview process. This could also be the last time if you don’t interview well, so there are a few important things to remember, and these will also serve you well once you have landed the job:
1. First Impression
2. Effective Communication
3. Relentless Preparation
4. Sound Presentation
5. Speedy Execution
6. Follow-Through, Follow-Through, Follow-Through
1. First impression. Making a great first impression on a Boomer is not impossible, but as with anyone, you’ll only have about 30 seconds to make your first impression. So you’ll want that to go well. Here’s the hot list of things to remember:
a. Be early. Not on time—early! About 10 to 15 minutes early is perfect.
b. Wait patiently. Don’t fidget or sigh. Make your body language say you are calm and open. Mentally envision the interview going the way you want it to.
c. Turn off all electronic devices and act like they don’t exist.
d. Be nice and informative to each person you encounter, especially administrative assistants. They are a part of the test at every level in the organization.
e. Dress one level above the dress attire for the position. If it is a professional environment, wear a suit. If it is business casual, dress at the high end of business casual. If it is casual, dress business casual. The Boomers have gone from bell-bottoms and long flowing dresses to all-out suits and then to business casual. When they came into the workforce, they learned in companies like IBM to dress professional with a dark suit, a white shirt, and a tie with a little red in it (for power). So it will serve you best to dress on the high end of what is required. Even if your Boomer boss is a casual person, he or she will appreciate the effort.
Now remember, all of these tips are excellent for your work with your Boomer boss, not just for the interview.
2. Effective communication. Communicating with your Boomer boss should start out formal. If he or she chooses to be more casual with you or ask you to be more casual, then you can adjust, but in the beginning, stay formal.
a. When you meet, stand to shake hands. Introduce yourself. Address him or her formally until given permission to do otherwise (Mr. Smith, Ms. Smith, Dr. Smith). While we’re on that subject, do not make the mistake of not knowing whether or not your Boomer boss has a doctorate. He or she has worked hard for an advanced degree and the title that goes with it, so don’t forget to use it.
b. Wait to sit until asked or gestured to do so.
c. Do not be afraid to make a little small talk while transitioning into a meeting, but remember, even the small talk will be subtly evaluated, so be careful what you choose as a topic. For instance, “What do you think about our president?” is not a good question to start with. On the other hand, “I see you received your doctorate from ______. What made you choose that school?” is a good question; it’s relevant (to work) and shows interest in him or her (you can never go wrong with that!).
d. Do not, we repeat, do not, look at your phone during a meeting. In fact, turn it off or silence it. Your full attention is expected.
e. Allow your Boomer boss to lead the conversation, but answer thoroughly and ask relevant questions as the opportunity allows. Don’t interrupt. It’s rude and shows a lack of discipline.
f. Listen carefully. If you give your full attention to the conversation, listening should come easily. Try to listen for understanding without weighing whether or not you agree with what is being said.
g. Follow up on statements you make and be aware of your body language. If you say you are going to send your Boomer boss something during a meeting, be sure to write it down and send it immediately after the interview. At the same time, your body language must communicate your openness and self-assuredness. No one wants to have an employee who seems insecure and all locked up.
h. Don’t waste time. Your Boomer boss has work to do, and if your meeting isn’t contributing to what he or she has to get done, your Boomer boss will want to wrap up quickly.
i. Give answers in sequence, even using numbers if applicable. For example, if he or she asks you about your contributions to date, you might say, “I believe I’ve had four major contributions in my work so far: (1) I’ve mastered the Spanish language, which positively impacted my work here by…; (2) I’ve located two additional revenue streams from an existing product; (3) I’ve lowered expenses in my area by…; and (4) I’ve united my work team through….”
j. Before you leave, make sure that both you and your Boomer boss know exactly who is responsible for action items and when action items are due. In addition, make and confirm the assignments of any other follow-ups. Don’t leave things hanging that will require another meeting or e-mail later. You both have enough to do already.
k. At the end of a meeting, stand, shake hands again, and get back to work.
3. Relentless preparation. Remember, for your Boomer boss, life is work, so arriving unprepared because of having to take your child to school or other such matters will not be appreciated. Your Boomer boss will think you should have prepared before last-minute changes would interrupt your plans. Preparing is one thing; preparing with excellence is a better thing. Don’t just prepare, over-prepare. Know more than you need to know and have back-up data as well. Be well researched and thorough. Besides, for your own sake, great preparation will give you a lot of self-confidence when you get ready to present your case or project.
4. Sound presentation. Speaking of presentation, this is a lot like making a strong first impression. The presentation of your case or project is a part of the equation in order to be successful with your Boomer boss. If you have made a good initial impression, communicated well, and over-prepared, but you make your case on sloppy materials, PowerPoint slides, or spreadsheets, you will lose credibility. In addition, your verbal presentation will play an important part. When presenting to your Boomer boss, speak clearly and with openness. Be forthright but don’t give more details than necessary to make your point; however, have the details for the drill of questioning that is bound to follow. It’s a good idea to practice. While you’re driving in to work the morning of the presentation, go over some of the important points to make sure you have your thoughts in order before you ever open your mouth at the meeting.
5. Speedy execution. While the Boomers lived through the 70s, not many of them still live the 70s lifestyle, so don’t expect them to be slow and laid back. You can do everything else right, but if you fail to execute the plan in a timely manner, your Boomer boss will lose confidence quickly. If you say you can get something done, get it done and have it done by the deadline. Excuses may be listened to by your Boomer boss, but each excuse weakens your credibility. It is a good idea to give your Boomer boss as much feedback as possible throughout the process so that he or she knows if it is going in the right direction or the wrong direction. Of course there will be times when your project or assignment fails—that is just part of business. The best way to keep the faith is to look your Boomer boss in the eye and say “Here’s what happened. Here’s where I personally failed. Here’s where the team failed. Here’s what we are going to do about it.” More than likely, your Boomer boss will roll up his or her sleeves and help you start over or move to the next step. The Boomer boss understands the concept of going to battle when necessary and is not afraid to get his or her hands dirty when the work is difficult.
6. Follow-through, follow-through, follow-through. In every area of work, follow-through separates the good from the excellent. You can have the talent of a B-player, but if you establish great follow-through skills and add a lot of heart to your work, you can improve your grade with your Boomer boss. Great follow-through is more than just following up on a task; it’s following up on the follow-up. Just take it one more step: it will set you far apart from your peers, and you’ll make life better for you and for your Boomer boss.
Of course every Boomer boss is different, so please realize we are sharing generalizations here. It will be critical that you read the situation and learn the personal preferences of your Boomer boss in order to be successful.
One last tip: Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of trying to get around your Boomer boss in your career path. Remember, life is work for them, and they are more than willing to go to battle to hold their strategic position, and if that means a few casualties in the process, well… so be it.