Benefits of Age

America is a youth culture. Youth is revered and celebrated. Young “Influencers” are the rage to follow. Celebrities tend to be young and beautiful.

Youth is an advantage for creativity and strength. Young inventors and scientists often make impressive leaps of thought. Experienced inventors and scientists combine ideas and processes in new ways. 

Most people start careers with hard physical work. As we gain experience we use our minds more than strength. 

Benefits of Age:

• Comfortable in and knowledgeable with the world
• Patience with process - not much is accomplished in 3 months, but amazing what can be done in 10 years
• Switch from Task to Relationship modes depending on situations
• Relate better with more diverse people
• More empathy due to experiences
• Enjoy other people’s success as much as our own
• Manage health better (but more to manage)
• Faith is stronger and based on experiences

Do you see young inexperienced graduates leading teams or large corporations? No. They have not developed skills to lead people, resolve issues, or experiences to draw on. Encourage your coworkers to develop creative and leadership skills. 

After all we were younger and needed guidance, encouragement and confidence to flourish.  

 “When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from someone who has never left home.” ~ Rumi

Empathy

Empathy is one of the most under appreciated leadership skill for teams. Without empathy leaders can break teams dictating to or abusing their people. You see problems with high turnover rates and lower retention. 

Empathy helps leaders understand customers and coworkers. Listen their wants and needs. Serving customers and finding new products & services for them. Empathy also helps improve productivity.

Why is corporate leadership only taking care of customers and stockholders? One cause is the stratification of society by advances in transportation. Previous generations leadership lived in the same town, commuted the same short distance, and spent their days mingling with the people working in factories and offices adjacent their own office. 

Most leaders were active in local charities, activities and politics. An opportunity to know ordinary people coming to work, struggling as single parents, taking care of sick parents, and celebrating the joys of life.

Today’s large corporations have headquarters in different states or countries. Leaders are isolated from the issues of their workers. The don’t deal with the same weather, see the same community problems, and spend most of their time planning, meeting with customers or influencing stock analysts. Worker payroll and concerns are delegated to an HR list, somewhere. 

Yet to meet any people who aren’t part of a group that does not feels discriminated against - Male, Female, Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, Middle aged, Older, or Young. Everyone thinks they have encountered discrimination. A commentary on how difficult life is? A commentary how few realize how many other people suffer? 

Leaders have teams accomplish more than they expect. But you can’t just push, prod and command teams. You need to know people to lead.

Lead your team to greatness. 

Learning Empathy

With experience we learn more ways to solve problems. We heard ideas from other people. We have seen alternates ideas tried, and the results. We can apply these same ideas in more situations.

We have learned money is not always the answer. And there are times where money buys the solution. We learn when to prioritize it.

Understand little children will be little boys & girls - noisy, full of energy and running around. Understand teenagers will be teenagers with so many insecurities, and so much they don’t know yet. Understand parents are encountering so much they have not seen, and feel so inadequate.

Understand when others are in pain, because of my injuries. Understand their frustration because of my frustrations. Understand it may not be their fault because of times it was not my fault. Understand jobs become unbearable or go away.

Understand we grow old, and our minds say yes while our bodies refuse to cooperate.

People are more important to us despite their problems they bring. Customers are often a challenge. Suppliers and vendors miss deadlines. Family and friends can disappoint you. Through it all relationships are a priority.

 “With Age Comes Wisdom” is the expression. More important we learn empathy. People need our empathy.