With age comes great wisdom....

too old?

When Joe Biden stepped down from running for what would be his second term as President of the United States it had many important consequences. One will go unnoticed unless you are one of those who crash against the glass ceiling that few talk about, but many are impacted by.

Despite the him being increasingly fragile in both his physical and cognitive performances he did what many senior people do (and some might argue he has done this for some years).... despite what we could all plainly see.... they cling to their past in trying to continue to remain relevant. It's an easy trap to fall into. Self-awareness diminishes with age. We are all susceptible to (continue to) believe our own publicity - even when there are signs that it may no longer be true.

We have all seen people that succumb to the temptation to do this.

The game of cricket allows for a team to decalre their innings before being bowled out by the opposing team: A batsman can carry his bat undefeated throughout an innings ("not out"). This game, like business and life, gives its players a chance to be unbowed.

Life and business give people the same chance to retire gracefully and accept that it's time to give the next generation of leaders the chance to pick up the challenge - just as they themselves did before. its not failure - its wisdom.

There is a fine line between ( a) being able to apply years of experience and amassed wisdom whist retaining flexibility and an ability to reinvent yourself or (b) imperceptibly and gradually slowing down as the effects of age creep up behind you.

The pace of change has always be fast. Today it's the inevitable rise of Generative AI and robotics and the role that they will play in revolutionising organisations across the spectrum of business. The advent of Web 2.0 is a long time a go. Today, digitisation (or is it digitalisation?) is dropped into current day business conversation like confetti at a wedding.

It's easy for those at the vanguard of this changing dynamic to believe that they are the true owners of today. And therein lies the modern day dilemma.

On one hand age and experience can outlive its welcome. But on the other, are we really always right to discard amassed wisdom, a depth of experience and a surprising talent for adaptability and learning? Age is after all just a number.

At the top of many great organisations sits a leader whose wisdom, experience, strategic insight and the scars of battles past qualifies them to lead in today's turbulent times. These are appointments that value the experience that comes with age. In the world of consulting or advising, or even in non-executive roles, experience is at a premium.

Across the developed world it's generally accepted that the older you get, the harder it is to find a job. Some commentary suggests that the chances of clinching that next move begin to decline at 40 ! Is today's world really a younger persons game? Certainly by 50 many will say that it most definitely starts to look that way.

So here is the dilema that faces many. Should we heed the (extreme) lesson of Joe Biden's aborted shot at a second term and accept that youth is preferred. or.... Should we ignore the CVs that date back to the seventies, eighties or even nineties quite so readily?

The answer is clear. remove pre conceived ideas on age and suitability. There are many high-energy, enthusiastic, deep-experience candidates who can help both a business and the teams around them.

It's all about the individual .... not the age.

but there is a caveat....

There comes a time when individuals should accept that its time to let the next generation take over. when old ways no longer cut it in today's world. Perceptive people will realise it, accept it, even foresee it, or perhaps welcome it ... but some will cling to past achievements masking a diminishing relevance.

So let meritocracy rule - where age is not a preset hurdle to gracefully and youthfully limbo under but where capability, adaptability and wisdom are valued equally.

Does wisdom come with age? ....What say you Donald?