Career Guide: Are you deadwood?
Ever wonder if your bosses or colleagues think of you as obsolete? I'd feel terrible if my coworkers thought so, even if my job were secure. And these days, fewer jobs are.
Here are seven signs your status is deteriorating. The more yeses, the more likely you're considered deadwood:
- Compared with years past, you're working on fewer important projects.
- You've been reassigned to a less powerful boss.
- Your coworkers rarely seek your professional advice.
- Your peers' raises are larger than yours.
- You're not up-to-speed on best practices or technology.
- You deride those who work harder than you.
- You're looking forward to retirement.
So what should you do? A few strategies for regaining some stature:
Establish yourself as a "wise elder." You may not work 12 hours a day or know Version 8.0 cold, but your many years in the workplace may enable you to prevent and solve problems that even an eager newbie couldn't. So, rather than compete with the young fire-breathing dragons, establish yourself as a "wise elder." Here's how to do it:
- With young coworkers or others who might welcome mentorship, say things like, "I notice you're working on a challenging project. I've had some experience with that sort of thing, so if you have a question or simply would like to kick it around a bit, I'd be pleased to do that."
- Help people, especially newer employees, to network—introduce them to the power people and others who can aid their careers.
- In your memos, reports, and proposals, mention any relevant lessons you've learned from past experience.
- In meetings, say things like, "I faced a similar problem a while back. We tried an approach similar to what is being contemplated here, but it didn't work. Finally, we tried YYY and it worked well. I'm wondering if we should consider trying that here."
Look fresh
- Have good posture, while sitting, standing, and walking. Cosmopolitan founder Helen Gurley Brown was only half-joking when she said, "After 40, it all comes down to posture."
- Stride, don't trudge.
- Get enough sleep. Even if you have to do it in your car, consider taking a half-hour nap in the afternoon. Nothing makes you look more like deadwood than appearing tired.
- Dress well. No need to look like a 30-year old, but dress smartly and neatly. Wearing an old, tight-fitting, brown suit is like wearing a sign that says, "I'm over the hill."
- Learn something new. Be sure it's something that you feel you can and might enjoy learning, is valued by your employer, and would be visible to your boss and others. Learning is often much easier with a tutor than a course.
Maybe it really is getting close to the time to hang it up. What then?
Cut your expenses so you can afford to retire earlier.
Could you sell your house and move to smaller digs or a place in a less expensive location? People used to expensive homes on the east or west coasts might be surprised to learn that perfectly nice homes are available in the fast-growing university town of Austin, Texas, for $100,000. Also, reconsider big purchases. Would you really get more pleasure from that $3,000 plasma TV than from the one you already have?
Create an exciting vision for your retirement. That way, you have something great to look forward to instead of just dreading your current existence. For example, might you want to tutor illiterate adults? Write that novel? Create the ultimate garden? Revitalize your relationship with your spouse or child?
Still, don't assume that retirement will necessarily be preferable to working. A few months after retirement, many people wish they were back at work. Some things, you should just do–and not wait for retirement to provide an excuse.