Embracing Experience and Combating Agism

Why Working Past 65 is a Win-Win for Everyone

It happened again yesterday. As I move past what many consider the traditional age for retirement, I am increasingly reminded of the value that my experience and learning brings to the table. The subtle and not-so-subtle hints suggesting I consider stepping back only reinforce my belief that experience, continuous learning, and passion for helping others are invaluable assets in any industry. Here’s why continuing to work past 65 is not only beneficial for individuals but also for the companies and customers they serve.

1. Lifelong Learning One of the cornerstones of my career success has been a relentless pursuit of knowledge. The world is constantly evolving, and staying relevant requires a commitment to lifelong learning. This means not just keeping up with industry trends but also exploring new areas of interest and expertise. Whether through formal education, online courses, or self-study, the pursuit of knowledge ensures that we continue to grow and adapt.

For example, the explosion of AI technology recently has caught my imagination just as coding in Lotus 123 and using the Internet, did for me back in the early 1990s. While some may fear that jobs will be replaced by AI, I see it as an opportunity to leverage AI to add value to our decades of experience.

A few years ago, I attended one of the best education sessions I have ever been to, which was a six-day face-to-face session to kick off a Diploma in Positive Psychology. While my class mates saw it as a bit of fun, there was an agism side that was slightly disturbing. They were taking bets on guessing my age. While I stayed positive about it, it did show that if you are outside the expected age limits, it will "turn heads". If I had listened to those subtle messages, I would have missed a potentially life-change event.

While aging often brings a reduction in capability, the decline is more about our thought patterns than mental or physical decline. Evidence has shown that the older brain does shrinks, but it is more accurately described as being compressed, which has been shown to increase speed of thinking and responding. Also, the term, "You can not teach an old dog, new tricks." is not correct. While the older brain does take longer to learn new things, it not necessarily because it is older; it is because it is literally full with all the learning and experience of decades on the planet.

One of the keys is to believe we can still be a world champion or a top performer, but we just need to redefine success in terms of being world champions in our age group. Focusing on what you want to achieve, and not on what you can not do, is critical. Modern psychology is recommending that to keep the body and brain healthy, you need to exercise them. Why not use the dynamic nature of continuing to work to do just that?

2. Learn a new language Positive psychology suggests that learning to play a musical instrument, or learning a new language, or just doing something different, is great for the brain. Another way to look at this opportunity is to understand the treasure trove of experiences and insights that can be invaluable to younger generations, and learn their language. As senior professionals, we have the unique opportunity to mentor and guide emerging talent. By sharing our experiences, successes, and lessons learned, we can help shape the next generation of leaders. This knowledge transfer not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the organizations we work in.

The key however is to not dwell on specific aspects of past achievements but to share the methodologies that led to those successes. For example, in my previous example, it was not just learning macro-coding in Lotus 123 or understanding how the Internet was going to change the world that really matters; what really matters is to identify the process of what made it successful or not-so-successful, e.g., with respect to spreadsheets and the Internet, the keys to success, were getting in early when mistakes are not going to be so punishing, understanding the fundamentals and experimenting, and then leveraging what works and building on that thereafter -- oh, and while everyone else are still just thinking about it.

This is where learning another language comes in. As a consultant the first thing that needs to be understood, learned, and used, is the peculiar language of the a new client's organisation. There is also supporting evidence to show that with new employees, the ones that successful integrate into the new culture, are the ones who quickly pick up and use the company-specific language. My experience in consulting is the same. Therefore the challenge is to learn and use the language of your potential audience, and not insist on doing it the other way around, which is often the case.

3. Embracing Change and Innovation Age should never be a barrier to embracing change and innovation. Our extensive experience equips us with a unique perspective on how to implement and manage change effectively. The only difference is what is going to be the final destination of the change and that is going to be new for everyone.

When my daughters were young, I often used to say, "Never be afraid to be a beginner again." because, at the time, my observation was that many of my colleagues and friends were reaching a comfort zone and were subconsciously resisting change.

I can understand that the relentless pressures to excel and deliver I spoke about in my previous article, on stress, can sometimes drive people away, but the answer may not be getting out completely. It may be taking some time out to reflect and rejuvenate. About 12 years ago, I was so muddled up with a bunch values clashes and unfulfilled aspirations, that I took a week off to do nothing -- nothing, but contemplate on what I had achieved and what I could possibly achieve again. That set a whole new direction for me thereafter, and I have not looked back since. Now I take a week off every quarter and go as "off grid" as possible, to ensure there are no distractions to the "doing nothingness." Try it; it works.

4. Leveraging our Understanding of Behaviour for Strategic Insight Decades of experience as a consultant has provided me a deep understanding of industry dynamics, market trends, and business strategies. This strategic insight is often the differentiating factor that helps companies navigate complex challenges and seize new opportunities. By leveraging our experience, we can offer valuable guidance and direction, ensuring that businesses not only survive, but thrive, in a competitive environment.

The trick however, is to understand that people are inherently negative and hence the communication of our experience, has to be converted from, "Here are the many watch outs, to gain this one benefit", to, "Here is what can be achieved, but let's make sure we have a plan for the risks." Human genetics haven't changed significantly for thousands of years, and it is hard to go wrong if we align our experience with the deep understanding human behaviour that time on the planet has given us.

5. Passion and Purpose Finally, the passion for our work and the sense of purpose it brings to us, our companies, and our customers, should not be underestimated. Continuing to work past 65 is often driven by a genuine love for what we do.

People often say to me, in direct, and sometimes in-direct ways, "You're lucky to be doing what you love," as if my career was an accident. While I am grateful for my privileges I was born into, my career is by choice. It's my passion, my hobby, and my lifestyle, and I am going to keep doing it.

Conclusion The decision to continue working past 65 is not merely about defying societal expectations; it is about recognizing the immense value that experienced professionals bring to the table. Continuing to work "ticks all the boxes", in Martin Seligman's PERMA model of happiness, i.e., it allows us to make a Positive impact, it is Engaging, there are ongoing Relationships, there is Meaning for us, our company, and our customers, and there is a sense of Achievement.

Age is just a number, and the drive to learn, lead, and inspire knows no bounds. Let’s continue to embrace the journey and continue to make a lasting impact.

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Rod Hozack, Partner Oliver Wight Asia Pacific

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