Maybe you have been out of the workforce¹ for a while (especially if you've been at home with the kids for a time) and have returned to a younger crowd in the office. Or perhaps a youthful star performer has risen through the ranks quickly and is being promoted faster than you can bat an eyelid². Whatever the reason, if you are faced with taking orders from a boss who is younger than you, it might not always be easy. It is important to gain some youthful perspective in this case and learn how to cope with grace and enthusiasm.

你是不是曾经离开职场一段时间（在家做家庭主妇/夫），等你重返职场却发现办公室都是一群年轻人。甚至你会发现年轻的新人面对工作更加得心应手，泰然自若。总之，不管出于什么原因，如果你的上司远比你年轻，对你来说一定不好过。这种情况下，你就一定要多从年轻的视角看问题，学会如何兼顾年长者的优雅和雇员的激情。

1.Treat your young boss like you would any other boss:

1.像对待任何一任上司一样对待他。

with complete respect from the word go. Your boss got the position because he or she has the right skills and impressed the superiors. It won't get you anywhere to spread rumors³, gossip or innuendos⁴ about the boss and his or her age. It is far better to respect the evident skills the boss brings to the job and to concentrate on the ways that you can genuinely help him or her. Be open to the new possibilities of working with someone who is likely very talented.

首先你要要绝对尊重他。你的上司能够做到这个位置，一定是能力使然，而且受到老板赏识。到处散播流言、八卦对上司的年龄含沙射影对你完全没什么好处。而尊重上司的业务素质、竭尽全力协助上司才是对你真正有用的。所以你要时刻准备好与有能力的新同事共事。

2. Focus on the positives of having a young boss.

2. 关注年轻上司的优点。

You will continue to feel uncomfortable if you look at all the negatives of the situation. Instead, see the pluses - the energy, dynamism, fresh ideas and new perspectives that a young boss can bring to a workplace are all great assets. And it is highly likely that you have an intelligent boss, which is definitely an asset.

如果总是关注于年轻上司的缺点，你会一直觉得很不舒服。反而，看到年轻上司身上的能量、活力、创意和视角，则会对你大有裨益。有一个出色的上司，一定是职场的一笔财富。

3.Take stock of your own skills.

3. 对自己的能力做出评估。

Although your boss is younger, you have plenty to offer - experience, maturity⁵ and the knowledge of how things will often pan out. In addition, it is likely that you are well-rounded at taking on numerous tasks at once and that you already have a well-developed and extensive network of personal contacts and professional contacts from prior⁶ work. Focusing on your own strengths may ease any feelings of insecurity or resentment⁷ towards your boss.

尽管上司比你年轻，你仍有大量的空间发挥自己——你有经验，你更成熟，你对事情更有预见性。你可以同时处理多个工作任务，你有广阔的人际关系，丰富的人脉资源。发挥自己的优势，能缓解年轻上司带给你的不安全感。

4.Update your skills.

4. 提升你的的知识技能。

Especially if you have been out of the workforce for a time, there is likely to be a need in some areas of your career skills that need polishing or extending. It's particularly important to keep up with any market trends and technological⁸ developments that could improve your effectiveness. Request to attend courses that will improve your skills and knowledge base. This will not only bring you up-to-speed quickly but may also result in you being the key person the boss comes to for implementing⁹ the new skills.

如果你长时间远离职场，很有可能在某些方面你的职场技能已经“落伍”，需要及时更新扩展。尤其是有关市场动向和科技发展的技能，对提高工作效率都是至关重要的。你可以要求参加课程培训提高自己，充实自己。不仅能使你快速赶上时代的步伐，也能让你因为拥有某项技能而成为上司面前的“红人”。

5. Speak up about your skills.

5. 大声说出你可以。

Do not be shy to let the boss know that you have good skills in certain areas. Without bragging¹⁰ or boasting, let him or her know what projects, activities and sales you have already accomplished¹¹ in your life. Do this when it's appropriate--such as when making a case that a certain project should be assigned to you--rather than to convince someone that you're right.

勇敢对上司说出你的专长。不要自卖自夸，只需让上司知道你完成过什么项目，策划过什么活动，取得过哪些战绩。在适当的时候让他知道这些，让他认为你是最佳人选。

6. Dress well.

6.着装得体。

Just because you are older doesn't mean that you should present a frumpy, older image to the world. Instead, continue to update your style and fashion sense so that it continues to reflect a professional, up-to-date image. Don't try to copy the boss and dress in styles that are possibly unsuited to your age but do keep your existing wardrobe abreast¹² of current trends and styles.

不能因为自己年长，就给人邋遢年迈的印象。反而，你更需要时刻把握时尚动向，打造属于自己专业前卫的形象。不要一味模仿上司们的着装，因为那不一定适合你的年龄和风格，而是要紧跟潮流，并保持自我。

7. Be a mentor¹³.

7.做一位良师益友。

The natural tendency to help the young with the wisdom of the elders is not a bad thing to instigate¹⁴ with care and gentleness. Be someone that the boss can rely on for advice and sounding of ideas. Take care not to come across as condescending¹⁵ or intrusive¹⁶, but do impart your knowledge with humility¹⁷, goodwill¹⁸ and in the way of mentoring¹⁹.

用长者的智慧帮助年轻人，并不是一件坏事，而是一种关爱与绅士的表达。做一个上司乐于咨询与倚重的长者，不要说教，以良师益友的身份体现出自己的谦逊和善意。

8. Be known by all the bosses.

8.结识其他上司。

When you get the opportunity to work with other bosses in the workplace, ensure that they are aware of your skills and worth so that this will reinforce your importance and value amongst the entire workplace.

如果有机会与其他上司共事，确保他们了解你的能力和价值，这样才会凸显你在其他同事中的重要性和价值。

9. Raise issues assertively²⁰.

9.大胆质疑。

As with any boss, do not feel that you cannot discuss issues directly with your boss. If you experience discomfort²¹ because of your age gap, ask for a private moment and raise it tactfully and respectfully. You may be surprised to find that your boss has similar feelings about the age issues, or may have some very interesting perspectives that settle the issue satisfactorily for you. You won't know until you ask.

与上司相处，不要觉得自己不能与上司直接进行讨论。如果年龄差距让你感觉不舒服，那就要求和上司单独交流，继而提出问题，技巧与尊重兼备。你可能会吃惊地发现，上司也对年龄问题感到尴尬，也许你会找到完美解决问题的方法。在你开口问之前，你永远不会知道答案。

10. Invite your boss to social events occasionally.

10偶尔邀请上司。

Take the boss to drinks or dinner with the office crew Friday night and get to know one another better. It'll probably make life a lot easier for all of you.

周五晚上带上司一起喝喝酒，吃个饭，互相了解一下对方，会让你的职场生活轻松很多。

Tips

小建议

If you are the younger boss, treat the employees with real respect. Recognize their good work, and do not let yourself feel threatened by experience. Lead by example, and people will understand why you're qualified²² and work with you much better.

如果你是文中所说的“年轻上司”，请真诚尊重你的雇员。认可他们的工作，不要让自己受他们的经验所威胁。以身作则，用能力说话，他们一定会理解。

If your younger boss is incompetent²³, it will show early on and you can be sure that the other superiors are watching. There will be as much pressure on a young boss to perform as there is on you to deal with answering to someone younger than you.

如果你的年轻上司能力不足，早就会露出马脚，也一定会有上司注意到。年轻上司的压力绝对比年长雇员大得多。

Warnings

诫言

Avoid making snide comments about "people your age X, Y, Z" or "when I was your age I could do it all by 5pm and then still do some". This will just make you appear boastful, unrealistic and probably a tad jealous.

不要说“跟你同龄的谁谁谁”或“我像你这么大的时候五点之前肯定做得完，还能做额外的工作”这种话，因为这样会让别人觉得你只会吹嘘、嫉妒。