After all, there are people in this world who are naturally good at dealing with older folks, and those who are not. Getting someone younger to listen to you is relatively easy. This is true not only in Japan but also in other countries. Convincing someone younger than you, regardless of gender, is generally not too difficult.

On the other hand, getting someone older to listen to you is challenging in any setting. Just as it is difficult for students to persuade upperclassmen, it is an almost impossible task for working professionals to get older or higher-ranking individuals to follow their lead. Common sense tells us that this is not an easy thing to do.

And yet, there are people in this world who can do it. How do they do it?

That is the “secret method for ‘captivating’ older individuals.” We should learn the “secret method for winning over older individuals.”Once you master this, you will be able to succeed in the real world with an undefeated record.

Why? Because the person who determines your promotions and salary is your superior. The key to your career advancement is always in the hands of those above you.

Therefore, if you acquire the skill of winning over the hearts of those in higher positions, your future will expand infinitely.

Studying What Interests Those Above You

How can you win the hearts of those above you? It’s simple. Whether they are older men or women, older brothers or sisters, uncles or aunts—it doesn’t matter. The key is to figure out what interests them. You must be able to discern what they care about.

Once you identify their interests, take the time to study those topics yourself and acquire some related knowledge. This will allow you to engage in conversations with them. For example, if someone loves flowers, learning a little about flowers will make it easy for you to join the discussion.

People tend to think positively of those who share their interests. There is a natural tendency to assume that someone interested in the same things as they are must be a good, respectable, and capable person. That’s why recognizing what others care about is so important. This is the first step.

Observe the Strong Points of Others and Convey Them Subtly

Humans, by nature, have a fundamental desire to feel important. This is even more so for older individuals—it’s only natural for them to want to be respected by those who are younger.

That’s why it’s essential to always pay attention to the strong points of those who are in a senior position relative to you. It’s important to recognize what interests them and to observe what their strong points are.

Once you identify their strengths, subtly let them know that you recognize and understand them.

If you express it too bluntly, it may provoke resistance. Instead, communicate in a subtle way that you appreciate their strengths. When you do this, people will be emotionally moved.

For example, let’s say you quickly glance at a host. What would you compliment?

I would listen to the way he speaks when greeting people and think, “Wow, he’s really good at talking.” Looking at this host, I may wonder, “Was he a schoolteacher or something?”

(Then the host responds, “I used to be an elementary school teacher.”)

I thought so. That’s a characteristic of someone who has repeatedly taught others. His voice is excellent—it’s the voice of a professional. It’s been trained. Teachers need to speak for long hours every day, teaching people over and over again. You can tell they have a voice shaped by hours of teaching. It sounds different from an ordinary person’s voice. It’s different from the voice of an office worker.

So, if you can pick up on something like that just by listening and casually mention it, the other person might think, “Wow, they really understand my background.” And from that point on, it’s only a matter of time before they become your fan. That’s the idea.

That’s why it’s important to recognize what the other person is interested in and what their strong points are, and then subtly show that you understand them. This is how you can win over older people. Try putting this into practice.

If you do, things will definitely go well for you, and this is also a path to career success.