Change Management Over 50
The ChangeStaffing leadership team turns 50 this year! To mark the occasion, we took some time to explore “practicing change management over 50” with the always fabulous, funny, and super smart, Sharon Connolly. She shares her story and wisdom with us here:
“Now that he’s over 50, it’s going to be a stretch for him to find his next job,” a friend commented to me about her husband who was looking for a new role.
What!?!
I am over 50!
What is going to happen to ME when I need to find my next role?
Prior to her comment, I had never even thought about my marketability relative to my age!
My friend, a recruiter that specializes in organizational change management, quickly clarified, “Oh Sharon! HE may have a problem finding his next job, but YOU won’t!” Feeling somewhat reassured, I asked her why she felt confident in my continued competitiveness.
“First, your personal presentation,” she replied. “The way that you show up communicates that you invest in and maintain yourself. But more importantly, you specialize in change management. It’s a mature space, full of talent who have been in the industry for a long time and who are absolutely nailing it! The industry has amazing leaders and is not as biased by age.”
But this got me thinking….
I am confident, that if given the chance to meet me in person – given my personal presentation, attitude, and energy – no one, I hope, would put me in a box, or assume that I lacked new ideas or was simply past it.
Then I started to worry…
But how do I come across on paper, in a CV or resume? Even if I trim off some of my work history, your experience can date you into a decade and people can dig around and see when you went to school, etc. When looking for my next role, based on a piece of paper, placed next to a cheaper, “more energetic” 30-year-old, how was I going to make sure that I jumped out?
So, I began to think very carefully about what I do well, what I believe in, and what I disagree with. I then started putting it out there through a series of articles. Some of my articles went against industry thinking, “If you’re experiencing resistance, you’re not doing your change management job properly!” Others, demonstrated my personality, “My husband’s new underwear as a case study for change management.” I was nervous, but I knew who I was, so I put it out there it turned out that people were really receptive.
Clothing provides a great analogy for understanding and expressing who you are. When walking into a shop together, my friends and I know immediately that anything sparkling or glittery is for me, Sharon. Another friend may like everything fluffy and furry. Many people define who they are and what they represent by what they wear, while others do not have any idea of who they are nor what they like. Still others may want to express themselves through their clothing but simply don’t know how and/or lack the confidence to do so.
As we get older and wiser, we need to know who we are professionally and put it out there. We need to practice self-examination and really hone in on “What am I really great at? What do I love to do? What unique skills do I have?” It’s equally important to know what you don’t like to do. Why would you advertise something on your resume if you hate to do it?
Regardless of your age, define who you are, advertise it, and people will hire you for it.
What do you love to do?
What do you not like to do?
What would you love to learn that’s within your stretch zone?
When it was time for me to look for my next role, I advertised the skills that made me unique. Did I have trouble finding my next role over 50? Nope! I have clients lined-up waiting for me to finish this role! While age did not get in the way of my new role, age was a powerful catalyst for defining who I am professionally, which helped me land this role…and the next one…and the next one…
Contact ChangeStaffing for more information about practicing organizational change management over 50, or at any age!
A very special thanks to Sharron Connolly, Change Management consultant and Change Superhero, for her thought leadership and for collaborating with us on this blog.