One of my favorite new blogs is Employee Evolution (check out my recent guest post over there!), and this week, contributor Chuck Westbrook (who has just started his own blog, I Hate Your Job) has a great post on ways to get respect quickly despite your youth. 

Those of us who have spent time in the business world in our twenties understand that this is a major hurdle.  After all, you don’t have the authority to insist that people treat you well, and you’re frequently looked down upon because of your lack of experience.  Here are some suggestions from Chuck:

• Be a student of everyone:  Asking questions and taking advice isn’t a sign of weakness, and it won’t emphasize your youth either. You’ll get better faster, impress more people, and actually seem older. Seeking ways to improve is a sign of maturity and is the easiest way to gain the skills and knowledge that make you more effective.

• Write well: Develop your written communication to the highest level, both in your daily e-mails and in deliverables for which you are responsible. This includes correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Today, many first impressions are made through e-mail.  If you present well there, you will be developing your personal brand, and when people are surprised at how young you are compared to what they expected, you will know that you’ve already busted some of their misconceptions about your generation.

• Demonstrate leadership: Help other employees to be more effective. For example, since you are a regular blog-reader, you probably are ahead of the curve when it comes to getting things done with computers. Be generous in helping others format documents, create spreadsheets, or find information on the web.

• Work smarter: Create templates for common tasks and send them out to others who could use them. Employ solid time-management to get more done in less time. When push comes to shove, intelligent managers will determine how to treat you based on performance alone. If you are the top producer in the department, you will usually be respected and rewarded.

• Show up: Take advantage of opportunities to interact with upper-management. If it’s a small company, say yes when you are invited out to drinks or dinner. If it’s a larger organization, reach as high as is practical. Participate in forums, Q&As, and special project groups, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself at the proper moment.

 Great advice, Chuck!