Bridging Age Gaps in the Workplace

Apr 7
08:02

2011

Betty-Ann Heggie

Betty-Ann Heggie

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How can we bridge the gap between two opposing age groups in the workplace – those that are “young and fresh” compared to those who are “old and experienced”? A few weeks ago I wrote a blog on age chauvinism and I’ve had some interesting responses.

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How can we bridge the gap between two opposing age groups in the workplace – those that are “young and fresh” compared to those who are “old and experienced”?

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog on age chauvinism and I’ve had some interesting responses. People emailed me to describe situations where their careers were thwarted because they were deemed “too young” to truly be qualified to advance in their jobs. Others told me that when they got wrinkles,Bridging Age Gaps in the Workplace Articles they were deemed to be “over the hill.”

The authors of one of my favorite new books, “Selected,” believe that age chauvinism comes from our ancestral heritage. We want to survive and believe that those with experience will help us find food on the savannah. It’s our animal instinct coming through.

For example, did you know that elephants, which have a matriarchal social structure, tend to follow the oldest female? Obviously, they think that her experience will lead them to the watering hole.

Additionally, when juries appoint a spokesman, they most often look for an older male, believing on some level, that they will be more credible with an authoritative representative.

But graying temples isn’t necessarily the silver bullet. Research shows that when people want change, they look for the dynamism of youth, but when they want stability, they look for the wisdom of age. And, our companies need both stability and innovation.

It’s time for us to evolve our thinking by recognizing the value that both 50 something’s and 20 something’s bring to organizations. We can help bridge the gap between them by setting up mentoring programs within our companies.

50 something’s have lots of experience and knowledge and they love to collaborate. They are the perfect mentors to provide support to 20 something’s who lack experience and often confidence. It keeps the “young and fresh” motivated while injecting some energy into the veins of the “old and experienced.”

When multi-generations work together, companies benefit from their polar opposite abilities and the answer to bridge the gap comes from mentoring. If your company has no such program, find yourself a mentor or a protégé today. The experience will be, not only evolutionary, but revolutionary. Have you experienced the benefits of mentorship?