Several weeks ago I posed an important question about an ageing society to the members of the LinkedIn Wiser Society group. The question was:
‘What is the most important, single action that we can
all take to ensure that older people contribute effectively to a wiser
society?’
all take to ensure that older people contribute effectively to a wiser
society?’
This is a synopsis of their replies.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this
competition. That included Andy Sargent, Lex Kennedy, Dr Stanley Theron, Joan
Baker, Rob Ball, Sandra Des Forges, Rob Ball, John Walkley, Andrew Barron and
Jean de Bruyne. Nancy King also posted but her comment went ‘walk about’ for
some reason!
competition. That included Andy Sargent, Lex Kennedy, Dr Stanley Theron, Joan
Baker, Rob Ball, Sandra Des Forges, Rob Ball, John Walkley, Andrew Barron and
Jean de Bruyne. Nancy King also posted but her comment went ‘walk about’ for
some reason!
These were interesting responses that
seemed to split into two camps – those who believe that seniors should take
action for themselves and those who want to see society take action to change
the circumstances for seniors. I will attempt to summarise the contributions
from each person so that we can consider their suggestions and vote for them. I
have dared to add a one line ‘gut’ synopsis in brackets at the end of each
short summary. Please comment if you
feel that I have mis-translated your comments!
seemed to split into two camps – those who believe that seniors should take
action for themselves and those who want to see society take action to change
the circumstances for seniors. I will attempt to summarise the contributions
from each person so that we can consider their suggestions and vote for them. I
have dared to add a one line ‘gut’ synopsis in brackets at the end of each
short summary. Please comment if you
feel that I have mis-translated your comments!
Actions
that can be taken by elders themselves
that can be taken by elders themselves
Joan started by taking an older person’s perspective and suggesting we
all need to converse with younger people as well as our own age group.
all need to converse with younger people as well as our own age group.
1.
(We should all talk with people
of different ages).
(We should all talk with people
of different ages).
Jean added that she would like to see elders continuing to engage with
society and that the way in which others respond to us is often a
‘self-fulfilling prophesy.
society and that the way in which others respond to us is often a
‘self-fulfilling prophesy.
2.
(We should all take
responsibility for staying involved in society as we age)
(We should all take
responsibility for staying involved in society as we age)
Rob continued with a similar approach suggesting that our view of the
role of older people is to become ‘curmudgeonly’ and that we might be the
self-fulfilling this belief. In fact we should be able to demonstrate open
thinking and positive actions as we become less dependent on bosses and ‘our
betters’.
role of older people is to become ‘curmudgeonly’ and that we might be the
self-fulfilling this belief. In fact we should be able to demonstrate open
thinking and positive actions as we become less dependent on bosses and ‘our
betters’.
3.
(We should change our personal
beliefs about ageing and use our newly found liberation to be positive and
open).
(We should change our personal
beliefs about ageing and use our newly found liberation to be positive and
open).
John pointed out that older people should focus on areas of work where
they had the advantage of mastery through years of experience rather than
compete with young people in areas where they could perform equally well. This
could include mentoring younger employees in larger organisations.
they had the advantage of mastery through years of experience rather than
compete with young people in areas where they could perform equally well. This
could include mentoring younger employees in larger organisations.
4.
(We should all learn about our
particular mastery that comes with age. We should offer that and stop trying to
compete with younger people in areas where they can contribute).
(We should all learn about our
particular mastery that comes with age. We should offer that and stop trying to
compete with younger people in areas where they can contribute).
Andy reminded us that we see things very differently because of our
cultural and generational upbringings. We should accept that generations will
be different. This current older generation was brought up to communicate
‘properly’ and does so instinctively. Social media has undermined the ability
for the younger generations to write clearly and succinctly. Elders are able to
offer (and should be able to guide younger people) in effective communication
skills.
cultural and generational upbringings. We should accept that generations will
be different. This current older generation was brought up to communicate
‘properly’ and does so instinctively. Social media has undermined the ability
for the younger generations to write clearly and succinctly. Elders are able to
offer (and should be able to guide younger people) in effective communication
skills.
5.
(We should all offer our
specific generational skills as we age; in the case of this generation, it is
communications skills).
(We should all offer our
specific generational skills as we age; in the case of this generation, it is
communications skills).
Actions
that can be taken by others for elders
that can be taken by others for elders
Andrew focused on developing new performance indicators that would better
reflect this contribution of older employees. Without new metrics, elders will
be at a comparative disadvantage within the organisation and knowledge would
not be shared easily.
reflect this contribution of older employees. Without new metrics, elders will
be at a comparative disadvantage within the organisation and knowledge would
not be shared easily.
6.
(Companies should develop new
performance metrics that match elders particular competencies)
(Companies should develop new
performance metrics that match elders particular competencies)
Dr
Stanley cited an example from Northwest University
in South Africa. Roles are created to keep retirees and Phd graduates and
lecturers who cannot get jobs are contracted as associates. They are contracted
to write papers and do other work as requested – which keeps them in touch,
able to use the facilities and part of the social group for their mental health
and their sense of purpose.
Stanley cited an example from Northwest University
in South Africa. Roles are created to keep retirees and Phd graduates and
lecturers who cannot get jobs are contracted as associates. They are contracted
to write papers and do other work as requested – which keeps them in touch,
able to use the facilities and part of the social group for their mental health
and their sense of purpose.
7.
(Educational organisations
could create new contract roles to include retired academic’s extra
capabilities).
(Educational organisations
could create new contract roles to include retired academic’s extra
capabilities).
Liz thought that we need to develop a process that matches the skills,
interests and energy levels of older people to a need in society. Individual
elders should be able to choose how much they contributed or not in this
process.
interests and energy levels of older people to a need in society. Individual
elders should be able to choose how much they contributed or not in this
process.
8.
(Organisations and society
should create relevant opportunities for elders to choose from).
(Organisations and society
should create relevant opportunities for elders to choose from).
Lex asks that we all acknowledge their experience and skills and offer
opportunities for them to contribute these. We should give them love and
envelope them in the family with gratitude and take time to do this through all
generations.
opportunities for them to contribute these. We should give them love and
envelope them in the family with gratitude and take time to do this through all
generations.
9.
(Our attitude to elders should
be one of grateful intergenerational inclusion, offering relevant opportunities
to contribute).
(Our attitude to elders should
be one of grateful intergenerational inclusion, offering relevant opportunities
to contribute).
The LinkedIn voting facility has been
discontinued I’m afraid, so can you please vote for one of these 9 entries here
– by mentioning the number. Also check out the actual comments and add yours
here about the discussion overall if you feel moved to do that! This is an
important issue from a social and economic point of view and becomes more
critical every day. Those of us who are thinking about this need to take some
action soon. We need to create a more positive future for older members of our
community. These comments are a useful contribution to start a more structured
conversation.
discontinued I’m afraid, so can you please vote for one of these 9 entries here
– by mentioning the number. Also check out the actual comments and add yours
here about the discussion overall if you feel moved to do that! This is an
important issue from a social and economic point of view and becomes more
critical every day. Those of us who are thinking about this need to take some
action soon. We need to create a more positive future for older members of our
community. These comments are a useful contribution to start a more structured
conversation.
Thank you for your interesting
contributions.
contributions.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ BrightbrainForWisdom