Amazing,
I have spent most of my working life managing people that are older than me. Some good advice that I received early on: "You may not be always right, but you are always the boss". This may be an employee with a problem, but I am getting the impression that you are having problems with other employees, etc. It is easier to blame a lack of respect on an age difference, than to admit that perhaps you have been a poor manager. It is your business, and your license and you have a right to expect that things will be done your way. That said, have you taken the time to explain and teach your employees what you expect? Sometimes it is easier to "do it yourself" that to explain to someone else how it should be done. I have seen many people guilty of that. They never have time to teach anyone how they want things done, and then complain that nothing is ever done they way that want it done.
With owning a business comes great responsibility, part of which is to be a mentor to your employees. It is your license, insurance, and profit that is on the line for every job. You don't know what bad habits or misinformation a worker has picked up during his career. You will need to communicate the way things are to be done under your license. Have a reason that you want things done a certain way and explain the reason as well as the outcome that you expect. If you are unwilling or unable to do this, stay small enough that you can do all of the work yourself; you will always have trouble with employees.
Ask yourself this question, "Is the employee the one with the problem, or is it the guy I see in the mirror each morning?"
I have spent most of my working life managing people that are older than me. Some good advice that I received early on: "You may not be always right, but you are always the boss". This may be an employee with a problem, but I am getting the impression that you are having problems with other employees, etc. It is easier to blame a lack of respect on an age difference, than to admit that perhaps you have been a poor manager. It is your business, and your license and you have a right to expect that things will be done your way. That said, have you taken the time to explain and teach your employees what you expect? Sometimes it is easier to "do it yourself" that to explain to someone else how it should be done. I have seen many people guilty of that. They never have time to teach anyone how they want things done, and then complain that nothing is ever done they way that want it done.
With owning a business comes great responsibility, part of which is to be a mentor to your employees. It is your license, insurance, and profit that is on the line for every job. You don't know what bad habits or misinformation a worker has picked up during his career. You will need to communicate the way things are to be done under your license. Have a reason that you want things done a certain way and explain the reason as well as the outcome that you expect. If you are unwilling or unable to do this, stay small enough that you can do all of the work yourself; you will always have trouble with employees.
Ask yourself this question, "Is the employee the one with the problem, or is it the guy I see in the mirror each morning?"
