Your mysterious boss.
Distant? Cold? Calculating? Much older? Much younger?
What is going on here?
The only real way to understand this very important person in your work life is to actually engage with them. Most leaders won’t ignore a direct, sincere ask like:
“I’m looking for some mentoring; do you have time on your schedule?”
Go in with an aspiration you’re working toward or a challenge you’re navigating. Then gently explore how they got to where they are, not in an obvious or intrusive way, but in a way that connects to your conversation. There’s always a story inside them. I wonder what it is.
I teach team members how to productively interact with leaders who are significantly older or younger than they are, not the typical ‘generational’ stereotyping method but one built on the skills of successful human relations.