Antiquated Ageism-A Social Faux Pas.
We “sometimes” see startups modestly pinched together with a young, fresh, and enthusiastic group ready to hit the ground running, excited about the future and all that it will bring, often breeding and attracting more of the same. This is a great idea and has brought prosperity, but with growth, we must ask the question, when is company culture built? Is it after 5 years? 10? Is it after millions in sales? Or is it when you go public? The truth is your culture starts day one. Keep this in mind even if you’re a party of one starting out in your basement. While a group of up-and-coming bright minds are very much in order, so are seasoned, mature and experienced talent to help you along the way, preparing you for an all-inclusive culture that will provide you with skilled, accomplished, and astute personnel. Both uniformly important, neither paramount over the other.
Ageism is just not a “good look" for businesses and definitely “not smart.” The labor market is way more visible today than in the past and has many more watchful eyes on it now, prior to the existence of social media. While it still happens, gone are the days when a company could age discriminate behind closed doors without fearing “any "consequences. Times are ever changing, as a universal society with a broader comprehensive labor market, it’s time for startups, smaller, mid-size and larger companies alike to look at internal talent and culture, holistically. If your vision of building an empire in modern times is fragmented and laced with cultural divergence, you have very little if anything to offer an empowered workforce.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this personal newsletter are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Northrop Grumman, the author’s employer. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as representing views of the company.
Alabama Power Company - Manufacturer Liaison - Sales & Service (Retired)
7moThis is an excellent commentary. During my personal work career, I had experienced that diversity of various age groups, can successfully prosper the organization. With few exceptions, the seasoned (older) employees (i.e. because of their work experience), generally have the tendency to listen more than they will speak. They do so open minded, with the intent to learn new perspectives from the organization's newer (younger generation) employees. Finding an equal balance of talent (i.e. regardless of one's physical age), is crucial, and is needed to enhance the organization's overall business objectives and profitability goals. It remains important for the individual (regardless of his/her job title), to respect each contributors' point of view. By doing so, it helps to achieve the organization's objectives, while also making it a welcomed and excellent place to work. When an employee leaves the workplace each day, believing they had achieved a satisfactory level of contribution to the business, and to their fellow worker(s), they will generally remain happier. This too can allow the business/ corporation to maintain a happier workforce, with less employee absenteeism and turnover.