Help, my boss is my kids’ age!

Can you ever take seriously a leader whose high school diploma has the same graduation date as your son or daughter?

The short answer is: yes.

The longer answer is: yes, and you’d better learn how because it’s going to be happening more and more. A recent CareerBuilder/Harris Interactive survey found that nearly 40% of American workers have a younger boss, up from 34% in 2012.

But when you’re reporting to someone decades your junior, the divide can be far greater than whether or not you view Slack or Stride as an annoyance or a crucial business communication tool.

You may feel a little embarrassed, even ashamed, to be the junior-ranked party, especially if you’ve spent decades in a company or industry. Your boss, meanwhile, might be hesitant to give you directives, or show that she’s still learning in some areas.

“A boss is expected to have the answers, but when he or she doesn’t, and their employees are older with years of experience, it makes it all the more intimidating,” says Gene Fairbrother, president of MBA Consulting, a strategic planning firm that helps small businesses with workplace issues.

The following advice can help you—and your newly-minted leader—move past these emotional challenges.