Start the ball rolling
January 4, 2010 Leave a comment
New Year is a time for reflection. In this instance, wondering how much progress will be made in respect of an improvement in the position of older workers in 2010 and onward through the next decade. Hopefully progress will be made, but undoubtedly it will be slow. This being the case it’s essential that older workers themselves take a more proactive role in furthering their cause.
There’s a saying that “If you keep on doing what you always do, you’ll keep on getting what you always get” – and it can be both proved and disproved in respect of older employees. On the one hand if you just keep performing in the same way as you age, in effect showing that you’re inflexible and stuck in a rut, that’s what will be reflected consistently in the feedback you get. On the other hand, if what you always got were promotion, respect and a front-line position, this is now unlikely to be the case even though you feel you still do what you always did. Either way, it’s not a good position to be in.
The underlying message is clear. What we all must do as we age is make a conscious effort to learn, develop, change and demonstrate our adaptability and flexibility. We are not “owed” anything in the workplace and if we are to be valued in the way we would like then it is down to us – individually – to prove that we deserve an equal position. Amongst the numerous benefits of ageing is that it bestows upon us greater wisdom, patience, resilience, and for many, innovation. By incorporating these qualities into “what we always do” on a daily basis we can take meaningful steps to helping improve both our own situation and the image of older workers as a whole. The time to start is now.
