Warren Bennis is one of my favorite leadership authors. He authored a book in 2002 entitled Geeks and Geezers that compares and contrasts the new leaders of of our day with the gray-haired leaders of yesterday. I would highly recommend the writings of Warren Bennis for those interested in exploring leadership styles and skills. The next four blogs will highlight some of the insights I gleaned from Geeks and Geezers."You can't teach old dogs new tricks!" This might be a true statement about man's best friend, but I am not a dog and I don't do tricks. One key that Bennis found in effective leaders involves their zest for learning. Life-long learning reflects a mature mindset that is open to new insights and knowledge.
I recently discovered an interesting website - www.museumofconceptualart.com/accomplished. This site allows you to type in an age and it will provide some examples of people who accomplished great things at that age. I am not sure what you consider old, but having just turned 60 and receiving my Golden Buckeye card that entitles me to discounts for the elderly, I think you have to be 70+ to be considered "really old." Here are some pretty amazing things that really old people have accomplished:
Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence (age: 70).
Casey Stengel BEGAN managing the New York Mets (age: 71) .
Margaret Ringenberg piloted her plane around the world in 1972 (age: 72).
A Maori woman, Ramari Post, received her PhD in molecular medicine from the University of Auckland (age:74).
Cancer survivor Barabra Hillary became one of the oldest people, and the first black woman, to reach the north pole (age: 75).
Grandma Moses STARTED painting (age:77).
John Powanda became the oldest Peace Corps volunteer in history (age: 79).
Jessica Tandy became the oldest Oscar recipient for her work in Driving Miss Daisy (age: 80).
A Cincinnati resident, Harold Berkshire, graduated from high school (age: 81).
Pearl Williams of Dallas caught her first fish - bluegills (age: 84).
Mae Laborde launched her acting career as TV's favorite grandma (age 93).
Harry Berstein published his first book, The Invisible Wall (age: 96).
It is this kind of zeal for life/ enthusiasm for the new and creative/ excitement for learning that allows people to do the amazing. Great leaders possess these qualities.
I have had the priviledge of teaching adults at the college level. I love teaching them because they are eager to learn and find time in their busy schedules to prepare for class. I have found that people who are not staying fresh and current in their profession are falling behind faster that they realize.
Bennis shares, "The ability to learn is a defining characteristic of being human; the ability to continue learning is an essential skill of leadership."
Bennis, W.G. & Thomas, R.J. (2002) Geeks & geezers: How era, values, and defining moments shape leaders. Boston: Harvard Business School Press
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