I work with the owner of a fairly large company near my hometown. I am only 18 years old but my career is very important to me. My boss (company owner) wants me to replace him and his day to day duties and take over his job (which I have no problem with). I try to show initiative and I always get things done when I am supposed to and I think I am a very good employee. My only issue is that since I am a female and so young, a lot of the employees are older men who don't want to listen to me. I feel like they think they can tell me what to do because I am young and a female. My boss tells me I need to start being tougher and telling people what to do - but I'm not quite sure how to demand their respect and not be bitchy. How do I get these people to listen to me without coming across bitchy and impress my boss with my ability to handle these situations?
2006-06-15 08:58:23 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
I know I am cut out for this and I can do it - be the employees don't seem to think they have to listen to me and don't seem to hold me in any position of authority.
2006-06-15 08:59:42 · update #1
That's great that you have this much ambition at your age! That's how I started out as well...and guess what? Sometimes I had to be a ***** to gain respect. But understand this, being a ***** doesn't mean you're not a good person and are not cut out for this sort of role at such a young age. It means that you're going to be aggresive, persistent, and head strong. Most importantly, it means that you will be a good leader and learn that you can also be friendly to these people but that there is also a fine line between the two. Not everyone has to like you to respect you - remember that. Just keep focused and believe that you can do this. Obviously your boss feels the same or else he wouldn't have put you in this position.
2006-06-15 09:15:49 · answer #1 · answered by SBean_29 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Get done what needs to be done. Usually initially when there's this kind of a situation, you need to do more than is expected of you in order to win ppl over. Go the extra mile.
Contradict them when they're wrong. Stand your ground. Make sure that you hold ppl accountable for what they're supposed to do, and don't worry about ppl talking behind your back. Don't be bitchy, be fair. Reward them when they're good, even if it's only a Thank You.
If you show that you get the job done, and the only thing they can gripe about is your age and gender, then they'll stop, because that gets old fast. You're going to be the person running the company, not their friend necessarily.
2006-06-15 16:15:53 · answer #2 · answered by mommy_mommy_crappypants 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, I have no advice for you but congratulations on your job. I know what it's like for somebody younger than me and less experienced than me to advance in something when I didn't. It was school related, not work related but you get the idea. I guess what I'm trying to say is put yourself in their shoes. How would you want your younger boss to treat you? Just be nice to them and they will respect you and most likely listen to you. And don't try to act like you are better than them.
Gosh, this reminds me of an episode of "Roseanne".
"I hate my boss, I hope he never graduates from high school."
2006-06-15 16:18:25 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you to see the television miniseries "Empire Falls" winner of a Golden Globe and based on the book winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Top 3 Answerer in Business & Finance. (Vote for me)
2006-06-15 17:11:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Impress them with your knowledge, skill and experience. Show initiative and be persisitent. Be assertive, not necessarily aggressive. Stand up for yourself and the behavior of your coworkers should stop.
2006-06-15 16:06:24 · answer #5 · answered by tutor t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this question is probably better suited for a job advice forum, not yahoo questions
2006-06-15 16:50:22 · answer #6 · answered by ello108 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋