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Sachem’s Decision: Work On O Wise Ones

Jan 9, 2015 6:30:00 AM

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Jerry Scott. We hope you enjoy Jerry’s wisdom and perspective.

Sachems_DecisionWe talk and think a lot at Gibson about the four generations in the workforce today and especially about how to attract, engage, and retain our millennials. However, this weekend, as I watched one of my favorite movies again, I began to ponder our oldest teammates.

The movie is “The Last of the Mohicans” and especially the scene: Sachem’s Decision. A sachem is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other Northeast American Indian tribes. In this powerful scene, the evil warrior Magua has captured the daughters of British General Munro, along with an officer. He has brought them to the Huron village to present to the Sachem as tribute and to validate his status as a great warrior. While he is doing so, the hero of the movie Hawkeye walks unarmed into the assembly to argue for the captive’s freedom. What ensues is a fierce debate.

Probably the coolest thing about this scene is the Sachem. He is ancient. He is so old it takes two women on either side to help him stand up and walk to the gathering. His face is lined, his visage is stoic, and he listens.

Eventually Magua and Hawkeye finish making their case and an amazing thing happens. This huge raucous gathering of people, previously hooting and shouting, go totally silent and they listen to the Sachem’s decision.

“English officer will go back to English so their hatred burns less bright. Dark child of Munro will burn in fire for Magua’s dead children. Long rifle, go in peace.”

There is one final burst of debate, an appeal from Hawkeye that he burn instead of his love. That appeal is intentionally misinterpreted by the officer so that he can take her place instead. And it’s over. Then the assembly erupts in a wall of noise and activity and the Huron’s move immediately to carry out the Sachem’s Decision.

I am left to first consider what it must be like to be instantly obeyed. That’s not the way it works in my world! Then I consider, what is the source of the Sachem’s authority? My guess is wisdom. His position of leadership, power, and influence is based on his wisdom. And that wisdom is not diminished, but increased and magnified with age.

Personal effectiveness and performance in the workplace generally finds its core in the four key areas of intelligence, energy, experience, and wisdom. Wisdom differs from experience as it’s the ability to use well the lessons of experience and to apply them to new, unexpected situations. It’s an area that hopefully continues to deepen and become more powerful over time.

Everyone knows there is a coming war over talent shortages that will primarily be sparked by the waves of retirement in the Baby Boom generation. Most of the discussion centers on how to best recruit and retain younger workers. Why aren’t we talking more about how to retain older employees? Retaining and leveraging the wisdom of older employees can, and should be, a powerful differentiator of best places to work in the coming decades.

So why is age and wisdom not more honored in our workplaces? Is mandatory retirement only about medical expense or is there truly a bias against older workers? As someone in their late 50’s, I feel it’s fair to offer an opinion. I think it’s due to stereotypes that have some basis in truth. So here’s my manifesto for fellow older workers if you are not dreaming of retirement.

Years of service do not and should not create a sense of entitlement. There is only so much in the pie for wages and benefits and that pie is shared by all employees. It’s not perfect but there is some rough symmetry between what you are paid and what you are expected to contribute. Each year we all must earn our keep and there is no “bank” building up over time that allows you to slow down later. If you want to stay then stay sharp and always, always give more value than you take.

Keep your skills and knowledge current. Gibson, and all excellent companies, must be learning organizations. You must remain a student of the game in your chosen field. Stay up with current technology. You don’t have to be an early adopter of the newest craze but if your company is communicating and engaging on Twitter, then learn Twitter. You may find out it’s a total hoot.

Stay positive and fun to be around. You can be super focused on results and performance and still be pleasant and helpful. Join in social activities and take advantage of opportunities to get to know your teammates and their families. And be sure to participate in your organization’s community service initiatives. Be a part of it all.

I love to work. Work gives you the opportunity to interact with people, to find new purpose, and to constantly reinvent yourself. I used to focus mainly on solving problems. For a long time I was known as the Vice President of whatever was broke the most. A turnaround guy of sorts. Now I am finding new resonance in discovering and nurturing leaders, especially my favorite – leaders who don’t know they are leaders. Why would I want to leave this any time soon?

What’s The Risk?

Excellent companies must change and adapt to the four generation workforce. Retaining and engaging older employees will require new strategies in career pathing, training and development, compensation, and benefits cost management.

And it will take a new level of understanding from the employees themselves. If you want to use your hard-earned wisdom, and leverage it to help your company and teammates, you have to be a player. As the magnet in my office says, “Growing old is not for sissies."

This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Jerry Scott. Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn and Twitter.

 

Topics: Executive
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Written by Gibson

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. As an employee-owned company, Gibson is driven by close relationships with their clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in Northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah.