Are You Old or in Your Prime?

Next month's age discrimination legislation represents the formalisation of a trend that has been growing over many years - the fact that many people either want to, or have to, work longer. The new legislation will make this possible and increasingly we can expect to see employees working well into their seventies and beyond. What mature employees will still have to fight however is the cultural perception that they may be "past it" or "over the hill". Of course, older PAs have always been the age group of choice for many bosses who recognise that their wisdom, experience and reliability often outstrip that of younger workers. But that view is not universal and in many companies, mature workers are seen as expensive, demanding, inflexible and difficult to assimilate into a modern workplace culture.

Yet why should this be when this group has arguably the highest standards of knowledge, skills, experience, emotional intelligence and customer relations savvy of any other? Very probably it's because too many people for too long have been content to rest on their laurels, feeling they were owed a living because they were older. It's an attitude that has contributed to souring the perceptions of HR Managers, employers and younger workers, worldwide.

No amount of legislation is going to change this over night, so if you're in the 45 to 70 age range, what can you do to help counter these views? Here are a few basic key points you should consider:

1. Don't Think "Old"

Research shows that we age as quickly as we let ourselves. So if you constantly think, "I should be slowing down", or "My best years are behind me", the ageing process will be eager to relegate you to the "elderly" bin. This should be an unthinkable option.

These days, research shows that people generally don't consider themselves as old until they are past seventy. And why should they? This generation comprises those people who were - and remain - the source of many of today's most iconic socio-cultural developments (rock music, fashion, art, etc). Is Mick Jagger slowing down? Bill Clinton? Judy Dench? Of course not. And neither are they playing the "good for their age" card. They're still as great as they ever were - in fact, arguably greater than ever.

2. Make the Best of Yourself

Many people who ought to be in their prime seem to have given up. People who used to be slim, gorgeous and proud of what they looked like, who used to bother about what people thought and put an effort into appearing attractive, fit and fashionable have obviously stopped trying and collapsed into post middle-age.

Making the best of yourself doesn't mean mutton dressing as lamb, it means finding what suits you and what makes you feel attractive and confident and putting the effort into details such as fashionable accessories and a contemporary hairstyle.

3. Be Open-Minded and Flexible

Again, some people who used to listen and learn and embrace new experiences when they were younger now just seem bored, boring and complacent. Quite simply, they've ceased making the effort to develop and be interesting. Worse, they seem no longer to bother to listen to others and appear to have stopped believing in themselves and their ability to be innovative, energetic, and charismatic.

4. Seek out New Challenges

Far too many people at this age have become under-achievers. Yet with a working life which may now be extended by a further 10 or 20 years, that's an awfully long time to be doing "more of the same".

If you want to be taken seriously and to continue to make a major contribution, you have to take responsibility for making things happen, actively demonstrating that you are accommodating, adaptable, eager to learn, develop and take risks, and prepared to fit in with new systems, as well as being willing to take orders from younger people.

5. Be an Inspiration for Others

Hopefully you will have read this knowing that none of the criticisms apply to you. But if you are youthful, adaptable, innovative and constantly developing you still have a much needed role to play in inspiring and motivating others who may not be so self-aware (perhaps you might want to leave this article on your boss's desk?).

As a post-war "baby boomer", you are a trailblazer. You were one of the first "teenagers" and now are the first generation that can be easily identified as "in their prime". Of course, you may want to help change things for the generation coming behind who will probably have even longer working lives than you, but for now, be selfish. Make it your mission to convince society at large about what a huge, powerful and largely under valued resource mature people are, right now.