When I was a kid we lived in an apartment above a downtown shop. Each
day after school, I didn’t have much of an opportunity to mix with kids
my age. Instead I spent time with the shops owners and employees
working below us who were a few decades older. That upbringing naturally
formed some sort of early maturity in me.
By age 31, I was already a human resource director with a global
bank, and having to manage folks 1-2 decades older than me. I guess by
some measure, I’m not an extreme case but I've been in countless
meetings where I was the most junior in terms of age and
experience. There are many CEOs, entrepreneurs, heirs and managers,
operating at a very young age. Things were made more interesting by the
comments I received in networking functions - “Oh, you look rather young
to hold this position!” Not the most political correct thing to say,
but I have always taken them as a compliment.
Being that “young guy” in the corporate setting has its advantages
and disadvantages. I’ll skip those for this time as the focus of this
article is on something more practical – how to be effective and
influence others – whether you are perceived as “young” or are factually
young compared to your peers. Below, 5 practical suggestions based on
my experience and observation of other seemingly “young” senior business
executives:
1. Build presence. Executive presence comes from what we say and do, and how we say it. Amy Cuddy has a fabulous
video on
Ted Talk
“Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are.”, In that video, she explains
how “power posing” can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in our
brain and may have an impact on our chances for success. I’d also go a
step further – mind over body. Ultimately it all begins from the brain
and what we believe shapes our words and body language therefore our
actions and speeches. Having a positive mindset – much like looking at
the glass half full instead of half empty, is key in shaping confidence
and projecting ourselves to others successfully. Pay more attention to
your postures and gestures, at work and outside of work. Adopt body
language that builds trust, respect, confidence and connections with
others.
2. Build a great reputation. Like
it or not, there will be general biases about young executives, such as
the lack of experience and maturity. A positive track record in your
performance, both in business and people management, helps shape a more
trustworthy perception. A great reputation gains respects after all. In
sports, very young athletes are just as equally celebrated as their
older peers if they had a stunning performance. The same in music,
science, and entrepreneurship. Great performance tells a positive story
others will find hard to resist. When that happens, people remember your
track record and not your age. Multiple rounds of great performances
then form a positive reputation. And the tales of a great reputation
travels beyond your immediate circles. Remember a bad reputation
travels even faster. So avoid having frequent negative press that might
push your positive wins aside.
3. Wait for the right moment to speak. There was a classic
TV commercial from FedEx.
During a meeting, the boss said the same thing that was just said by
one of his subordinates, but got the attention of everyone around the
table when the subordinate was largely being ignored. Over the years,
I’ve learned this trick. It’s not how frequently you speak in a meeting,
but what you say at the right time with the right perspective! And the
more you speak without thinking, the higher the chances are of saying
something dumb or premature, which gives others the convenient excuse to
dismiss your thoughts and go on to label you as being young.
4. Power dress.
I hate to sound old school and shallow but it’s true. Dressing up or
dressing a notch higher does some magic. Unless you work in an all jeans
and hoodies environment, or already share the same stage with the likes
of Mark Zukerberg or Brian Chesky, you may want to rethink about what
you wear and how others may perceive you. And mind you, even if you work
in a business casual environment, there are ways to dress to impress.
My point here, is to not to come across as sloppy and cause the older
peers to feel they are having a meeting with their college going kids.
5. Bring the young energy.
You are young after all. Older executives do appreciate the energy,
fresh ideas, and enthusiasm from their younger peers. Don’t try to act
old! If you do enough of the above four suggestions, chances are, you
have earned sufficient trust and respect from others. Be authentic, and
bring your youth to the table.
I love this particular quote from Joe E. Lewis –
You are young once, and if you work it right, once is enough.
**************
Eng-Sing is a talent management consultant, a brain-based career coach and Chief Opportunities Officer of
Acewood Solutions. He can be contacted at
essoon@acewoodgroup.com.
He has had over 15 addresses in the last 20 years in Singapore, Hong
Kong, Shanghai, Malaysia and the United States, an MBA from the
University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is certified in various personality and talent assessment tools.
