| People Often STILL Have A Lot To Offer | | | | him below: |
| Organisations(& Society) After They Stop Being | | | | In the 1870s, the then Chancellor of Germany - |
| Young | | | | Bismarck - was studying the problems posed to him, |
| From the time we were kids, up till now, each of us | | | | by a number of rather powerful enemies he had in |
| will - at one time or the other - have had contact | | | | German polity. He discovered that they all had one |
| with an aged person(or maybe you are one!). In | | | | thing in common: they were "men who were 65 |
| certain societies, it is assumed that old/aging people | | | | years or older". |
| will be limited in the extent to which they can be | | | | So, the smart Chancellor used his influence as the |
| useful to us - or themselves - for that matter. It is | | | | incumbent, to persuade the German legislature to |
| true that there will come a time, when a person is so | | | | enact a law making 65 the mandatory age for |
| far gone in age, that s/he might become considerably | | | | retirement! |
| dependent on others for the most basic needs. | | | | In other words, this retirement age palaver had |
| However, so long as good health and living/welfare | | | | absolutely nothing to do with retrogression in "mental |
| conditions are not lacking, most people are likely to | | | | abilities", or a decline in "productivity" for that matter! |
| enjoy relatively active lifestyles, even in their old age. | | | | Instead, Bismarck had this law passed, so as to |
| As a result, they will be potentially capable of making | | | | eliminate those old but sagacious individuals, who |
| useful contributions to development of people and | | | | made "trouble" for him as political opponents. These |
| society by drawing on their years of acquired | | | | men's time-nurtured wisdom, experience, power, |
| experience and wisdom. The degree to which this is | | | | contacts/connections etc gave him cause to "fear" |
| achieved of course will vary from culture to culture. | | | | them. He knew they had what it would take to deal |
| For instance, take a look at most of the extremely | | | | him fatal blows politically, if he left them "running |
| insightful, and thought-provoking proverbs unique to | | | | loose" - hence the law. |
| African(and Asian) societies. You will find that old | | | | Now the funny part was that other European |
| aging people in these societies are the ones who | | | | countries inexplicably followed suit subsequently. |
| distilled their (good and bad) experiences in life, into | | | | Eventually the "policy" was adopted in America and |
| proverbs, as a means of "teaching" or "guiding" other | | | | of course the rest of the world followed! |
| younger/not-so-old others towards taking the "right" | | | | . |
| steps in the "journey of life". | | | | Zig ended by lamenting the tragic fact that this policy |
| That in itself, is evidence that old/aging people in any | | | | makes people quit when they (to quote him) "are at |
| social setting, have a powerfully significant role they | | | | the very peak of their intellect, wisdom, contacts, |
| can play - if encouraged to do so. These people | | | | power, experience, organisation, and networks that |
| spend their "less busy" days, reflecting on past | | | | they have built over a period of a lifetime!" |
| experiences - and using them to coach willing | | | | How Much Of What We (Think We) Know Is True |
| younger persons they come into contact with. In the | | | | Correct? |
| process, they come up with proverbs, anecdotes, | | | | Can you imagine how every year research findings |
| parables, folk tales etc to pass "educative" messages | | | | by scientists continue to invalidate the "truths" we |
| about "life" to their "students" or | | | | "think" we know about ourselves and the world we |
| protégés. | | | | live in? |
| Think about the "Tortoise" stories for instance. Many | | | | You could of course say we're being brainwashed |
| African born persons today, know or have heard one | | | | even now with these aforementioned findings. But I |
| or more stories about the Tortoise, and his tricky | | | | always measure things like this against the impact |
| ways! The stories are always engaging, yet the | | | | their application makes on people and society in real |
| messages skillfully wrapped into them never lose their | | | | life. Evidence is rife to confirm that these findings are |
| impact. A child, who has heard what Tortoise's greed | | | | actually consistent with what has always obtained in |
| caused him to suffer, often recalls it at the exact | | | | nature. As Zig said, the bible itself, when it did speak |
| moment when s/he is contemplating "picking" a piece | | | | of retirement - did so in reference to it as a form of |
| of meat from the pot while no one is looking! | | | | punishment! |
| So, what is my point? It is that persons we call "old | | | | Think about it! Look at the Old Testament, and |
| or aged persons", often have "locked" within them a | | | | check the ages at which people mentioned in it |
| rich reservoir of potentially useful knowledge. This | | | | fulfilled their roles - Abraham, Sarah, etc. They were |
| knowledge derives from various experiences they've | | | | well past ages that we in today's world consider that |
| had over the years. If they were to consciously | | | | one ought to "retire". |
| draw upon that knowledge reservoir, they could | | | | Could it be that we are actually STILL capable of |
| make themselves practically indispensable to | | | | staying as virile and active as those people were in |
| whatever group or organisation they choose to | | | | their time, right into 100 years and above. Could it be |
| belong. | | | | that we have allowed ourselves to be convinced that |
| Organisations And The "Retire At 60 Years & | | | | we are supposed to gradually age away, and |
| Above" Rule | | | | become less capable by the time we cross 60 - 65 |
| Organisations normally have employees of various | | | | years? |
| ages, and at different stages of career advancement | | | | When you think about the saying that "whatever |
| working in them. Generally, in many organisations, | | | | you think about yourself is what you become", then |
| there is a rule that at a specified age (typically | | | | one is tempted to consider that this is indeed the |
| between 60 and 65), employees are expected to | | | | reason why many people appear to "expire" at those |
| retire. Typically, the conditions of service documents | | | | ages. They were told that that were supposed to |
| in a company would state this requirement. In my | | | | "expire" or "grow old" by then, and they believed it! |
| experience, few people really bother to find out | | | | But Why Should YOU Believe All This? |
| WHY they have to retire at that period of their lives, | | | | Because biological research evidence has finally |
| but it appears to be generally assumed(or accepted?) | | | | confirmed what people in the old days have always |
| that at that age, most people will no longer be able | | | | known - that we DO NOT lose functionality "upstairs" |
| to meet the requirements for doing their jobs | | | | as we grow old. Instead our brains can still be |
| satisfactorily.(There is also the other matter, of | | | | developed further to enable us deliver better brain |
| creating room for "young/fresh blood" to join the | | | | power/output to contribute meaningfully to society. |
| organisation.) | | | | If this is true, then it means if we take many of our |
| What appears not to have been considered in many | | | | old/aging people who have spent years doing certain |
| cases, is whether or not this rule should apply both | | | | kinds of jobs, we can engage them in productive |
| to jobs requiring mainly physical exertion, and those | | | | roles that have more to do with THINKING up |
| which only demand mental exertion by the employee. | | | | solutions to identified problems. (There might be need |
| In the former case, the fact that the ageing process | | | | for "brain-training" like those recommended by Tony |
| leads to weakening of the body muscles, dulled | | | | Buzan in his book, but ultimately, positive results can |
| reflexes etc cannot be denied. However, in the latter, | | | | be obtained.) |
| what one seems to happen is that people have | | | | The expectation is that they will draw upon the |
| come to assume(or accept?)that since the body is | | | | years of experience they've had, which many of the |
| ageing, then so will the mind (or brain)!. | | | | supposedly brighter, and younger colleagues may not |
| That is probably why you and I would find it | | | | have. These could then be combined with their |
| incredible that a 96-year-old man signed a five-year | | | | increased thinking abilities, to help their teams solve |
| deal with a hotel in Las Vegas, USA instead of ten | | | | specific problems in various areas of specialisation. |
| years because he wasn't sure the resort would last | | | | Corporate organisations might find that they can |
| ten years"! Let's face it, most "sensible" people would | | | | successfully employ this technique. It is also |
| simply laugh at the old man for even thinking he had | | | | conceivable that many of such older people could |
| anything to offer - talk less of having him give the | | | | actually enjoy this kind of attention, since it would be |
| hoteliers a condition because he doubted they could | | | | an acknowledgment of their continued usefulness |
| last ten years!!(This true story is recorded in | | | | relevance(they don't even need to remain in the |
| reference item no. 3 listed at the bottom of this | | | | employ of the company to do this). |
| page). | | | | Of course there is the issue of reversing the years |
| But then, THAT "old" man knew something others | | | | of brainwashing that people like this have been |
| did not - and was certainly convinced about his ideas. | | | | subjected to. By this I refer to certain societies in |
| What he knew is the reason why I have written this | | | | which some of such people might not be willing to |
| report. By the time you finish reading it, you will | | | | believe that they are capable of functioning that |
| (hopefully) be armed with knowledge and good | | | | usefully again. In such cases, they would be better |
| understanding of what ageing and experience ADD to | | | | left alone, since without their believing they can do it, |
| a person that makes him/her MORE potentially useful | | | | no amount of training will enable them achieve the |
| to others. | | | | desired levels of performance. |
| You will in effect know what that "old" American | | | | I once worked in a large multinational corporation as a |
| man knew, and will (hopefully) use it to negotiate | | | | process manager - a brewer to be specific. I still recall |
| favourably for yourself in your later years. Most | | | | VERY vividly that many of the long serving process |
| importantly, this knowledge will help you - as a | | | | operators who retired at the mandatory age defined |
| decision maker - AVOID retiring your employees | | | | by the company were often still in their prime - at |
| when they could still have more "USE VALUE" to | | | | least as far as their ability to do their jobs went. |
| offer, in exchange for the CASH value you give to | | | | Many were among the best in what they did. In fact, |
| them. This could be a key factor that determines the | | | | when they left, the brewery would sometimes limp |
| long term success or otherwise of your company | | | | along for many months before settling for some |
| business. | | | | reasonably satisfactory replacements for them in |
| Revealing Research Findings About Age, Ageing | | | | their area of the process! Over the seven(7) year |
| & The Brain | | | | period I spent in the brewery, I came to develop a |
| The story about the origin of this retirement age | | | | healthy respect for these men. |
| palavar is quite an amusing one. Historical accounts | | | | These supposedly "old" operatives frequently had |
| have it that the "tradition" (if we can call it that) | | | | knowledge/expertise that made them adept at |
| came into acceptance for a reason TOTALLY | | | | managing their aspects of the process. When |
| unconnected with age. This tradition was a fallout of | | | | particularly difficult/recurring process problems |
| POLITICAL developments that occurred as far back | | | | occurred, they were often useful resource persons |
| as the 1870s! A brief narrative of the story is | | | | members of successful problem-solving teams. And |
| provided later on in this report (from reference item | | | | as in-house trainers(with proper motivation), they |
| no. 3 listed at the bottom of this page).. | | | | often turned out superbly prepared |
| This report is preparing you to appreciate how our | | | | protégés, who subsequently required |
| "thinking" has been conditioned by society, to accept | | | | little or no formal training from the company's |
| limitations to our (mental) capabilities - that do not | | | | Training department(I should know - I was Technical |
| exist! People have learnt to believe for instance, that | | | | Training and Development Manager before I left)! |
| as they get old, they can expect to gradually | | | | Any Other Reasons For Retiring 60 Year Olds? |
| become "slow/poor thinkers...dull-witted" etc. In most | | | | So, does your company have any other reason(s) |
| cases, these expectations are based upon faulty | | | | for asking people to retire at 60 years(or older), |
| inferences drawn from physical body changes | | | | other than the already mentioned fact that it's |
| observed to occur with age. In effect, I am saying | | | | "policy" or (the unstated assumption) that a 60 year |
| that contrary to popular belief, our mental capabilities | | | | old's usefulness to the company would have dropped |
| remain unaffected(at least not in any significantly | | | | too low? If YES, then maybe you don't need to try |
| negative way) by the body's ageing process! | | | | convincing your management to modify their |
| And NO, this is not an outrageous or unsubstantiated | | | | approach to implementing that "rule". If NO, then |
| assertion I'm making here. The entire matter was laid | | | | hopefully you/your company will want to tap FULLY |
| to rest as a result of verifiable research work carried | | | | from the wisdom/knowledge of your veteran |
| out by respected scientists and professionals. I | | | | employees before letting them go completely. |
| provide details below. | | | | I am not saying that new/younger employees be |
| According to Tony Buzan (regarded as a world | | | | prevented from coming in, just because you want to |
| authority on the brain, memory, creativity, and speed | | | | benefit from some old person's wisdom. What I am |
| reading - and inventor of the world-famous Mind | | | | proposing is that companies try to strike a sensible |
| Maps®), Dr. Marion Diamond of the University of | | | | balance between both options. They can do this by |
| California confirmed via research findings that "there | | | | watching out for specific individuals whose |
| is no evidence of brain cell loss with age in normal, | | | | antecedents/current performances, suggest that |
| active and healthy brains" (See reference item no. 1 | | | | even though they have arrived at the "age of |
| listed at the bottom of this page). | | | | retirement", their continued presence in the |
| Instead, research indicates as Buzan puts it that "if | | | | organisation/as team members - whether on contract |
| the brain is used and trained, there is a biological | | | | or part-time arrangement - could yield greater |
| increase in its interconnectivity complexity, i.e. the | | | | bottom line rewards for the company. |
| person's intelligence is raised". And he adds: "Training | | | | Incidentally, some companies already do this - so it is |
| of people in their sixties, seventies, eighties and | | | | NOT impossible! |
| nineties has shown that, in every area of mental | | | | How Can You Use This Report's Information? |
| performance, statistically significant and permanent | | | | Here are a few ways it can help YOU - if you let it: |
| improvements can be made". | | | | 1. If you are already 60 years or older, you now |
| But how come we are just discovering this now? Or | | | | know that you can still make the most of your life. |
| did some people from the old days know this truth | | | | This is because clocking 60, does not imply you've |
| as well? Luckily for us, we have records of | | | | run out of time or abilities to achieve your dreams in |
| utterances made by someone like Thomas Alva | | | | life. |
| Edison, a man whose achievements in life(despite | | | | 2. As a 60 year old who has read this report, your |
| having what should have been the "handicap" of | | | | kids and other young people around you, will |
| almost NO schooling) proved he had exceptional | | | | (hopefully!) find you very forthcoming as a coach |
| mental capability. | | | | mentor/teacher. This will derive from your awareness |
| Edison is reported to have said "The brain can be | | | | that you can develop yourself further - especially |
| developed just the same as the muscles can be | | | | mentally - to help them make better use of their |
| developed, if one will only take the pains to train the | | | | experiences, and be more productive. |
| mind to think," and, "The brain that isn't used rusts. | | | | 3. As a decision maker(who may not necessarily be |
| The brain that is used responds. The brain is exactly | | | | young and therefore not up to 60 years of age), |
| like any other part of the body: it can be | | | | you will treat veteran employees in your company, |
| strengthened by proper exercise, by proper use. Put | | | | with more respect and possibly try to help them |
| your arm in a sling and keep it there for a | | | | develop better brainpower, to become more useful |
| considerable length of time, and when you take it | | | | to the company before they have to retire. |
| out, you find that you can't use it. In the same way, | | | | 4. You might be in a position to help influence the |
| the brain that isn't used suffers atrophy." (See | | | | initiation of a re-think of the implementation of the |
| reference item no. 2 listed at the bottom of this | | | | retirement rules in your company. This would be done |
| article). | | | | to ensure individuals who still have enough "USE |
| Considering that Edison was not even close to being | | | | VALUE" to offer the company are "held on to", if |
| a medical doctor, talk less of being a brain surgeon, | | | | necessary as "independent" contractors to the |
| one can only try to imagine how he came about this | | | | company. |
| strikingly accurate analysis of the brain's capabilities. | | | | Summary |
| Review the foregoing, against the background of the | | | | Now that you know the truth, please apply your |
| fact that Edison had barely more than three months | | | | knowledge - and share it with others as well. Bob |
| of schooling, then one cannot help but agree with the | | | | Marley once sang "Emancipate yourselves from |
| assertions he has made! But we could ask the | | | | mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our |
| question "How did Edison know?" The obvious | | | | minds". I like to put it this way: Emancipate Your |
| answer in my opinion would be that Edison himself | | | | Thinking(TM)! Only by so doing, can we really achieve |
| was living proof of the fact he had stated. He had | | | | our full potentials as human beings. |
| experienced what he had spoken about. That was | | | | The policies or "rules" in your company are unlikely to |
| the basis of his awareness and conviction on the | | | | be cast in stone. Some person(s) would have |
| issue. | | | | "formed" them at a time when it probably made |
| But, we can't stop there! The title of this report is | | | | sense to have them THAT way. The reality from |
| "Your Company May Be Losing Money By Retiring | | | | what YOU know today however might make it |
| Employees When They Clock 60 Years (And | | | | necessary for you and/or other decision makers to |
| Above)!". To show how this can happen, we must | | | | work towards adapting your company's retirement |
| bring the aforementioned submissions to bear on the | | | | policy for instance in a way that allows the company |
| workplace situation in companies. | | | | benefit more optimally from the tremendous wealth |
| So How Did The "60 Years & Above" | | | | of knowledge, skills and talent that most of your |
| Retirement Age Issue Start? | | | | employees(especially the aging/long serving ones) are |
| The story of how this retirement age issue came | | | | endowed with. |
| about is quite an intriguing one I must say. | | | | To make an organisation(or indeed a society) truly |
| Incidentally, the person through whom I gained this | | | | successful, its members need to be made to believe |
| exciting insight into it, was past 65 years himself | | | | in their own abilities to make a difference. One step |
| when he wrote the book in which he told the story. | | | | towards achieving that, is by helping them do away |
| I refer to Zig Ziglar. It was in his book "Over The | | | | with self-imposed limitations like the one about aging |
| Top"(reference item no. 3 listed at the bottom of | | | | resulting in lower productivity. Let's get many of our |
| this page), that he narrated the anecdote under the | | | | old/aging people more actively involved, in improving |
| sub-heading of "Time and Timing". The true story - | | | | the way we do things for the better. |
| as told by Zig - about the origin of this "retirement | | | | References Consulted |
| age" problem, proves that age was not really the | | | | 1. Buzan T., The Speed Reading Book, London, BBC |
| "issue". He began by noting that people have | | | | Worldwide Limited, 2001. |
| generally considered 65 years as the retirement age - | | | | 2. Hill N., Think and Grow Rich, New York, Hawthorn |
| giving examples of universities, religious | | | | Books, Inc, 1966. |
| denominations, blue-chip companies, and the military | | | | 3. Ziglar Z. |
| etc as culprits. Then he told this story - I paraphrase | | | | |