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Sep 25 2013

Selecting New Managers: Authority

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In my study of the generations in the workplace I’ve found that there tends to be a difference between the youngest members of the workforce, the Millennial Generation, and everyone else. Millennials tend to relate differently to authority. As a rule, they were raised to be more questioning and not accept authority at face value.

That’s not all bad, but it can be a little difficult for older leaders to understand; especially when selecting management candidates.

One of the traits to look for in a potential management candidate is how they respond to authority. In this regard we can learn from these young Millennials. A good candidate for promotion to management is one who is respectful of authority, but not intimidated by it.

A manager who has no respect for authority will be a constant source of problems. On the other hand, a manager who is unable to express conflicting opinions, based on their own knowledge and experience, will not be very effective either.

That’s where Millennials may have an advantage as new managers. While they may need to learn to temper their approach to authority, they are more likely to express what the boss needs to hear.

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