DEVELOPMENT
Why there is
no ‘expiry age’
on learning
Learning new skills is essential in today’s
volatile job market. With the right attitude,
direction and tools, old dogs can learn new
tricks writes Karen Gately
THE EXPERT
Karen Gately, founder
of Corporate Dojo, is a
leadership and people-
management specialist.
Karen works with leaders
and HR teams to drive
business results through
the talent and energy of
people. She is the author
of The People Manager’s
Toolkit: A Practical guide
to getting the best from
people (Wiley) and The
Corporate Dojo: Driving
extraordinary results
through spirited people.
How often have you heard someone say “I’m too
old to start that now”? Have you yourself avoided
going down paths that require learning, because
you felt your age is an obstacle? All too often I
observe people make assumptions and decisions
based on age that are fundamentally flawed.
Limiting beliefs and unconscious bias
regarding age are common. Believing for example,
that ‘older people are stuck in their ways and
don’t want to learn’ leads some employers to limit
the opportunities they give people over a certain
age. Equally some people choose to believe these
things about themselves and undermine their
own potential. With an aging population, Australia
needs to leverage the wisdom and experience
of the older members of our community. With
fewer people working, skill shortages are likely
to impact many industries. With a higher average
age in the workforce, comes depth of experience
employers are wise to leverage.
56 Chief of Staff | Issue 2 2019
Choose belief
Among the most inspiring people I have met is a
man named Jim. At the age of 75 Jim decided he
wanted to learn karate and so, he did. A teenager
at the time, I was blown away by his capacity to
choose to believe in himself. While somewhat
limited by his physical capabilities, Jim’s heart
and mind were stronger than much younger
people I had met before, or indeed since.
The truth is old dogs can learn new tricks, and
typically need to. As research and history show,
the ability to learn has less to do with age, and
far more to do with desire. It’s true to say that
with age typically comes a decline in cognitive
abilities that are important for learning new skills;
however, with effort and confidence many of
these obstacles can be overcome. Regardless of
our age, it’s important that we all continue to
keep learning for these four reasons.
Achieve your goals
Whether your goal is to earn a promotion, change
career direction altogether or ensure greater job
security, continuing to learn is essential. Keeping
pace with the demands of your role, profession or
your industry requires you to take deliberate steps
to learn the skills and gain the experience needed