When the old title no longer fits
The Last Word: A longer life will require more than one version of you, and the judgement to know which of the older ones are worth keeping. A new white paper from Henley Business School starts with a simple premise: working lives can now easily stretch across six decades. Based on interviews with people aged […] When the old title no longer fits was originally published on Emerging Europe .
A new white paper from Henley Business School highlights the complexity of having a long working life, spanning six decades. It suggests that professional identity plays a stronger role in adapting to new technology compared to age. As people spend more time discussing necessary skills for longevity, such as learning and adaptability, a personal challenge emerges: deciding which aspects of older identities are still valuable.
The paper references the Centre Spark program at Centre College in Kentucky, which encourages students to consider both their desired work and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of becoming multiple versions of themselves rather than a single, static identity. The author shares their own career journey, which included transitions from journalism to entrepreneurship and strategy, illustrating how these changes were gradual shifts rather than sudden transformations.
They note that while old professional identities may persist in external representations, they should not hinder the development of new skills and roles. The author argues that reinvention involves retaining useful aspects of previous identities while adapting to changing circumstances. Organizations also face similar challenges, as they may cling to outdated success stories, which can limit their ability to adapt.
The paper concludes by noting that a six-decade career demands flexibility and the willingness to redefine oneself, with the understanding that not every new role requires the abandonment of past experiences.
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