Lowering the Boom on the Baby
The term “baby boomer” seems to be an oxymoron since most of the “babies” are now over 50. In the workplace if they are not retiring they are fighting for survival. The generation that thought they’d “never get old” did. And now they desperately need a new strategy to continue the lifestyle they have become accustomed to. Our current employment climate is more partly cloudy than smooth sailing for the boomers. It is time to regroup and make your own luck.
If you are currently employed have you noticed warning signs that you might be “aging out” of your job? Check yourself against the following scenarios:
- You have been passed over for a change in position because the new job is considered “fast paced” or “stressful”.
- When you weren’t available by text you became grist for the office joke mill. Your boss joked that “you can’t teach and old dog new tricks”.
- At a recent staff meeting when you presented an idea it was voted down because the company is looking for a “fresh, new approach.”
- Co-workers seem overly inquisitive about you how long you’ve been with the company.
- Any unsolicited company literature about “retirement” mysteriously ends up in your in-box.
These are all signs that your company may be in the midst of a change and they do not consider “baby boomers” as part of the new company image. Some might consider this practice as blatant age discrimination but company public relations say change is inevitable if the business is going to survive. Complacency and reliance on past performance can cause the baby boomer to be left behind. Barbara Sher, author, therapist and career counselor in her book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was says change is good for you. She offers the following insight:
“You’ve been a beginner many times. We all go from most knowledgeable to most ignorant several times in our lives. Now that we’re living longer and society is going through a period of rapid change, each generation can expect to make that 180-degree turn more often than the last generation.”
Most change is unwelcome and uncomfortable but people manage to survive. For “baby boomers” that change of not being the “smart kid” on the block anymore is a shock. Boomers have not gracefully moved from youngster to elder in daily life or in the workplace. They have not for the most part learned to manage the change. The savvy boomer stays ahead of the curve and in demand in the workplace by using experience, knowledge and keeping a keen eye on the pulse of the business. Baby boomers can continue to have a strong presence in today’s workforce, on their own terms, if they keep the following ideas in mind:
- Stay informed on the latest technology and industry terminology
- Keep your skill sets current (take a refresher course if necessary)
- Update your wardrobe and physical appearance
- Get in touch with your interests and pursue them (well rounded person is more adaptable to change)
- Reassess your goals to see if you are ready to initiate a change rather than be thrown into a change process
- Consider branching off into an entrepreneurial venture
Lee Child, author of several thrillers including Gone Tomorrow wrote an article in Parade magazine last July entitled “My Good Life After Being Fired”. I especially liked his advice about using the hurt and betrayal one can feel when there’s a change in a company that affects your life, to move forward. He says,
“It’s about opportunity. By this time in your life, you’ve learned a few things. You’ve got skills and work habits. You’re in charge.”
So, baby boomers take charge!
