You Are Over 65? Re-Tire. Put The Tires Back On
“Best-before-date” in the working world has expired
When I had a conversation with the owner of a medium-sized company about his workforce and people in “retirement”-age, I was positively surprised about his attitude.
He told me about an employee who started working at age 15, came at some point to my conversation partner’s company, and stayed there until the point when he was supposed to retire at the end of 50. He worked almost 45 years, and the rule says to retire after that.
Fast-forward 15 years and he is still working at the company.
Just because he feels like doing it and because he is good at what he does. The owner considers him as a valuable asset to the company as he has accumulated an enormous knowledge over decades that would be a shame to lose.
Rigid Rules Versus Useful Skills
Do we stop working at a certain age due to regulations and laws, which have not yet been adapted to the 21st century, which mandates that we “retire” and “have to quit” when we reach a predetermined age threshold, regardless of our or the workplaces feelings regarding it?
Life expectancies have increased, and we have a better health system. Young people start their professional working life later than previous generations, due to university years, gap years, spending a study or work year abroad.
Respectively, the “rules” for retirement need to be adapted.
Why not pay more attention to the knowledge, experience, willingness, and commitment of the “mature generation” and integrate them into our organizational structures?
And why not combine these skills and wisdom with the younger generation’s spirit of pioneering, their desire to try new things, and their skills in modern technology.
Combining Experience And Curiosity — To Create Something New
The ideal recipe for companies, institutions, or projects would be that we learn to combine wisdom and experience with the curiosity for new things, a beginner’s attitude, and a willingness to develop and grow.
“Experience is making a comeback again. Because at a time when corporate management is in the hands of younger generations, organizations are finally becoming aware of values such as humility, emotional intelligence, and wisdom that go hand in hand with age.”
“And when digital skills may only have an expiration date from the latest fads or gadgets, human skills that employees have mid-career — such as good judgment, expertise, or the ability to collaborate and coach — never expire.” That’s how Chip Conley describes it, author of the book “Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder”.
“Best-Before-Date” Has Expired
In another conversation, a friend mentioned how his father was retired at the age of 60 from his work at a public office, where he successfully built up and managed a department over decades. Since he still enjoys his work a lot, and still feels young, while even being very popular with his colleagues, he offered to work more years, even for less or fewer days.
No.
The sell-by date has passed, the law says he can no longer work, so he had to pack up and leave. Seriously?!
Un-Retirement
When is the ideal age to retire?
NEVER.
Let’s forget about rules and laws for a moment and look at common-sense and human well-being.
Harvard University economists coined the term “un-retirement” to describe the number of people who retire, then find out that they don’t like it, and they turn around and go back to work. Between 25 and 40 percent of retirees re-enter the labor market.
The reason why the un-retired people want to go back to work is because
- they feel they have a purpose
- they wish to continue to use the brain
- they enjoy social exchange and commitment.
Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin interviewed people between the ages of 70 and 100 and asked them what contributes to life satisfaction for them.
Each one of them was still working. Some have changed their work pace due to age-related slowdowns, but in the partial days they work, they achieve more than most of their younger colleagues.
Multi-Generation Teams
It has been discovered that teams with multiple generations and long-standing team members tend to be more productive. Older team members increase the productivity of their colleagues, and such teams usually outperform those of the same generation.
Ultimately, the goal should be that everyone in an organization or group feels included, welcomed, valued, and respected. Which means nothing else than paying attention and thereby promoting fruitful cooperation.
The American filmmaker and theater director Frederick Wiseman finished yet another film with 91.
A few years ago, he described: “As for my age, I am completely ignorant and do not pay attention to what I find extremely useful. Of course, from time to time, I allow myself to become aware of my age, but it’s not something I think about. I like to work. I work very hard.”
Un-Retiredness and not tiredness is the motto of many “aged” people who love to keep being busy, useful, helpful, needed, and challenged through work and other projects.
You are over 65? Re-tire. Put the tires back on. Why not?
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