Yes, Let's Keep Boomers Working
I read a very great article this morning called I Brake for Boomers in the Workplace. Go here to read it all: http://www.fistfuloftalent.com/2008/06/dont-be-bum-rus.html?cid=120556616#comment-120556616
The point of the article is to acknowledge that many boomers are a) not ready to retire yet and b) that companies still need their input. It alludes to the fact that companies also need the technology talents of the Gen Xers. That's true as well.
The key here is that age needs to not be a divider, but rather we need to highlight the strenths of both and learn from one another.
One of my driving passions is to work with companies to improve on the culture and thus the productivity and team spirit of their employees. I mostly work with managers. I see that there is a substantial need for management teams to address the ways that the generations can work together AND to really focus on how to engage the boomers -- to keep them working as long as possible.
While there is often reference in recent articles that boomers HAVE to keep working because of the economy being tenuous at the moment. Let me make a statement here about that. I REFUSE TO BUY IN TO THE ECONOMY BEING BAD. The more the media tries to scare us about the economy, the more they drive us into panic. I'm not going there. We are an incredibly resilient country. We've been in lean times before and we always come out strong. This is not a time for companies to tighten their belts and stop offering growth experiences to their employees.But, rather, it's a perfect time to get creative, look for new and effective techniques to "bring out the best" in their teams. An analogy is the employee who gets fired and instead of panicking about unemployment, he takes his savings and goes back to school to expand his talents. Companies should do the same.Focus on expansion and growth. Get more creative.
If you'd like to see more ideas about how to engage the boomers and keep them longer, go to http://www.itsboomertime.com/reports.php and download my special report. It's filled with ideas.
So, boomers -- keep on trucking and working and teaching and mentoring and being fulfilled. You are the knowledge base of your companies, the backbones. Don't leave before you're ready and by all means, don't let them push you out of the nest before you're ready. Instead, be a mentor, a teacher, a leader and help to ensure that the succession will have an easy transition.
Have a great Sunday.
Ann
The point of the article is to acknowledge that many boomers are a) not ready to retire yet and b) that companies still need their input. It alludes to the fact that companies also need the technology talents of the Gen Xers. That's true as well.
The key here is that age needs to not be a divider, but rather we need to highlight the strenths of both and learn from one another.
One of my driving passions is to work with companies to improve on the culture and thus the productivity and team spirit of their employees. I mostly work with managers. I see that there is a substantial need for management teams to address the ways that the generations can work together AND to really focus on how to engage the boomers -- to keep them working as long as possible.
While there is often reference in recent articles that boomers HAVE to keep working because of the economy being tenuous at the moment. Let me make a statement here about that. I REFUSE TO BUY IN TO THE ECONOMY BEING BAD. The more the media tries to scare us about the economy, the more they drive us into panic. I'm not going there. We are an incredibly resilient country. We've been in lean times before and we always come out strong. This is not a time for companies to tighten their belts and stop offering growth experiences to their employees.But, rather, it's a perfect time to get creative, look for new and effective techniques to "bring out the best" in their teams. An analogy is the employee who gets fired and instead of panicking about unemployment, he takes his savings and goes back to school to expand his talents. Companies should do the same.Focus on expansion and growth. Get more creative.
If you'd like to see more ideas about how to engage the boomers and keep them longer, go to http://www.itsboomertime.com/reports.php and download my special report. It's filled with ideas.
So, boomers -- keep on trucking and working and teaching and mentoring and being fulfilled. You are the knowledge base of your companies, the backbones. Don't leave before you're ready and by all means, don't let them push you out of the nest before you're ready. Instead, be a mentor, a teacher, a leader and help to ensure that the succession will have an easy transition.
Have a great Sunday.
Ann
posted by Ann Fry, Head Boomer at
10:31 AM
2 Comments:
I applaud your enthusiasm and determination in the face of constant negativity and paranoia. It is the creative people that will win out for themselves and for the country in the long run.
We're busy redefining the workplace. And the nature of work. And, yes, some of us work because we need to, but many of us work because we want to.
Yes, let's not lose all the creativity and generativity of all the Traditionalists and Boomers who still have so much to contribute.
Post a Comment
<< Home