As a senior colleague, isn\u2019t it better to be relied upon than not to be? Where does this difference between the two come from? First, let\u2019s look at three examples of their behavior.<\/p>\n
Scenario 1: A senior colleague teaching a junior colleague how to do a task<\/h3>\n
\"Go take some photos of the rebar.\"<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.\"<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a common scenario where a junior employee is at a loss and asks a senior colleague, \u201cWhat should I do?\u201d The senior colleague usually doesn\u2019t bat an eye. That\u2019s because they\u2019ve likely made the same mistake themselves, so they can teach the junior how to handle it.<\/p>\n On the other hand,From a junior\u2019s perspective, what a senior says sounds like \u201ddivine advice.\u201d<\/span>You can kind of see how this is how the hierarchy between seniors and juniors develops, right?<\/p>\n Let's say a junior casually says to a senior, \"Hey, did you know? The Reels feature on Instagram is really catching on!\"<\/p>\n Even if a senior colleague thinks, \u201dOh no, I don\u2019t get Instagram,\u201d they can still say, \u201cStop talking nonsense and get to work!\u201d<\/p>\n My junior just wanted my senior to listen to him, without making a big deal out of it.<\/span>Nevertheless, it amounts to having communication cut off on the grounds that it was \u201cnonsense\u201d and being scolded to \u201cget your work done faster.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ve told you three stories, and they\u2019re all pretty ordinary. But even in the midst of these \u201cordinary stories,\u201d your junior colleague will...\u201cI\u2019m starting to feel like I don\u2019t want to talk to anyone anymore.\u201d<\/b>Have you noticed that?<\/p>\n What is the common thread among all these situations?It is that \u201cseniors are always in a position of advantage\u201d and \u201cjuniors are always at a disadvantage.\u201d<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s any possibility that the hierarchy could be reversed, I think it would be the Instagram post mentioned in point 3.<\/p>\n However, the senior colleague dragged the junior colleague out of the unknown world of Instagram and into the arena of \u201cwork\u201d\u2014a 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.<\/p>\n 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.\"<\/b>...is what I start to think.<\/p>\n As a result, people end up thinking, \u201cThere\u2019s no point in asking for advice.\u201d<\/span>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.<\/p>\n So, let's think a little more about what kind of senior is easy to talk to.<\/p>\n That\u2019s someone who has weaknesses.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n In other words, people who give others even the slightest reason to think, \u201cMaybe I could beat him!\u201d tend to be more likable and seem more human.<\/p>\n To help you become the kind of senior that juniors feel comfortable approaching, I\u2019m going to share some techniques you can start using right away.\u201dThree Magic Phrases\u201d for Seniors to Build Closer Relationships with Juniors.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s a phrase that could work in romance too (lol), but it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n When that happens, can you honestly respond with, \u201cOh, really? I didn\u2019t know that!\u201d? Can you show understanding by saying, \u201cI see!\u201d in response to what your junior colleague is saying? Can you say, \u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d\u2014acknowledging that their perspective is more correct than your own? That\u2019s what really matters.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to have a mindset of acknowledging and respecting others.<\/span>That's what it says.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nScenario 2: A situation where a minor problem arises on-site<\/h3>\n
Scenario 3: A situation where a junior colleague brings up a topic you\u2019re unfamiliar with<\/h3>\n
Before I knew it, people had come to think, \u201cThere\u2019s no point in asking for advice.\u201d<\/h2>\n
\u201d3 Magic Phrases\u201d to Build a Closer Relationship with Your Junior Colleagues\u201d<\/h2>\n
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