Do your juniors come to you for advice? Or do they not?
This might come as a surprise, but have you ever...Do your juniors ever come to you for advice? Or do they never ask you for advice?
As a senior colleague, isn’t it better to be relied upon than not to be? Where does this difference between the two come from? First, let’s look at three examples of their behavior.
Scenario 1: A senior colleague teaching a junior colleague how to do a task
"Go take some photos of the rebar."
Let’s say you give instructions to a junior colleague. You explain what to watch out for and the timing based on your past experience, and the junior colleague heads out to the worksite. This is a very common scenario.
Seniors are simply passing on to their juniors the knowledge and experience they've gained over the years. That's why they give instructions based on knowledge that ensures they can never lose.This will instill in the younger students a deep-seated sense that "our seniors are amazing."
Scenario 2: A situation where a minor problem arises on-site
It’s a common scenario where a junior employee is at a loss and asks a senior colleague, “What should I do?” The senior colleague usually doesn’t bat an eye. That’s because they’ve likely made the same mistake themselves, so they can teach the junior how to handle it.
On the other hand,From a junior’s perspective, what a senior says sounds like ”divine advice.”You can kind of see how this is how the hierarchy between seniors and juniors develops, right?
Scenario 3: A situation where a junior colleague brings up a topic you’re unfamiliar with
Let's say a junior casually says to a senior, "Hey, did you know? The Reels feature on Instagram is really catching on!"
Even if a senior colleague thinks, ”Oh no, I don’t get Instagram,” they can still say, “Stop talking nonsense and get to work!”
My junior just wanted my senior to listen to him, without making a big deal out of it.Nevertheless, it amounts to having communication cut off on the grounds that it was “nonsense” and being scolded to “get your work done faster.”
Before I knew it, people had come to think, “There’s no point in asking for advice.”
I’ve told you three stories, and they’re all pretty ordinary. But even in the midst of these “ordinary stories,” your junior colleague will...“I’m starting to feel like I don’t want to talk to anyone anymore.”Have you noticed that?
What is the common thread among all these situations?It is that “seniors are always in a position of advantage” and “juniors are always at a disadvantage.”
When it comes to Topic 1, you have the upper hand simply by the fact that you're "teaching." So, the more you repeat it, the wider the gap will become.
Next, regarding point 2, since the junior colleague is coming to you for advice while feeling guilty, I think the power dynamic is overwhelmingly in your favor.
If there’s any possibility that the hierarchy could be reversed, I think it would be the Instagram post mentioned in point 3.
However, the senior colleague dragged the junior colleague out of the unknown world of Instagram and into the arena of “work”—a field where the senior colleague is guaranteed to win. This ensures that the senior colleague will always have the upper hand, no matter what happens.
However, through these kinds of casual, everyday actions, juniors come to feel toward their seniors that"No matter what I say to this person, they always talk down to me."...is what I start to think.
As a result, people end up thinking, “There’s no point in asking for advice.”Through this kind of process, some senior colleagues become the ones people frequently turn to for advice, while others are the ones people never consult.
”3 Magic Phrases” to Build a Closer Relationship with Your Junior Colleagues”
So, let's think a little more about what kind of senior is easy to talk to.
That’s someone who has weaknesses.
In other words, people who give others even the slightest reason to think, “Maybe I could beat him!” tend to be more likable and seem more human.
To help you become the kind of senior that juniors feel comfortable approaching, I’m going to share some techniques you can start using right away.”Three Magic Phrases” for Seniors to Build Closer Relationships with Juniors.
- "Wow! Really?"
- "Oh, I see!"
- "That's for sure!"
It’s a phrase that could work in romance too (lol), but it’s a good idea to try using it with your juniors from time to time. There are times when the information a junior brings to you is actually more useful than what you already know.
When that happens, can you honestly respond with, “Oh, really? I didn’t know that!”? Can you show understanding by saying, “I see!” in response to what your junior colleague is saying? Can you say, “You’re right!”—acknowledging that their perspective is more correct than your own? That’s what really matters.
Once you’re able to do these things, your juniors will feel they have a place where they belong. This will also serve as a source of emotional support, and your relationships will surely go well.
It’s important to have a mindset of acknowledging and respecting others.That's what it says.
