My Birthday Wish: Let's Flip the Script!

Today is my birthday.

For years, when my daughters would ask me what I wanted for my birthday, I'd say things like "world peace."

This year, I'm focused on something a bit more tangible. I'm joining with others to launch a campaign for the month of May (Older Americans Month) to flip the script about older workers.

If you follow me on LinkedIn, you know that I'm passionate about the value that experienced talent and intergenerational teams bring to workplaces. This is what I speak to employers about, and how to make it happen.

Here are just some of the things that our culture and businesses overlook about older workers because of long-held, ageist stereotypes:

1. That experienced talent is vital in times of rapid change
2. That we can lead in effective AI use for companies because our experience and domain knowledge best prepares us not only to create great prompts but to interpret the results.
3. And according to recruiters, older workers are an incredible missed opportunity. They are: Loyal, productive, adaptable; value ongoing learning; and bring industry knowledge and connections, among many other things.

Throughout the month of May, the campaign will be sharing social media content, generating earned media, and speaking up with both stories and data about the very real value of older workers and intergenerational teams, flipping the script that has too many outdated stereotypes.

We'd love to have you join us!

If you:

• Would like to share content on your social media
• Are an employer and/or team leader who embraces intergenerational teams and has a success story to share
• Are willing to write OpEd pieces or letters to the editor for your local media
• Or have other ideas of how to join the campaign to flip the script about older workers

Just fill out this form, and I'll be in touch with more information in early April.

And if you have other ideas of how we can flip the script about experienced talent, please share them in the comments below.

Feel free to SHARE this piece. Let's join together to advance the very real business benefits of older workers and intergenerational teams.