Gary Martin: An age-old leadership conundrum

President Joe Biden’s string of recent media slip-ups, while capturing public attention, have had the unintended consequence of prompting older Australians in leadership roles to quietly ask themselves: should I continue to lead, or choose to leave?

With the nation’s population aging rapidly, this dilemma extends beyond individual leaders to their colleagues and the broader community, prompting a significant debate about when aging leaders should gracefully exit the stage.

An ageing population means more older employees in the workforce, many in leadership roles, bringing extensive experience and expertise to various sectors.

Determining the exact point at which an aging leader should vacate their position is exceptionally complicated because aging is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon.

There are 90-year-olds launching tech start-ups and completing second university degrees, while some 60-year-olds depleted of energy and motivation spend their days in recliners, watching repeats of “The Golden Girls” for the umpteenth time.

For most ageing leaders, knowing when to step down isn’t easy, but reconciling their experience with ageing’s effects is crucial for their well-being and their organizations.

This decision hinges on self-assessment of performance, health, and adaptability.

Overstaying can tarnish a legacy while stepping down respectfully ensures a positive one and sets a strong example.

Colleagues of ageing leaders often evaluate their leadership through the lens of ageism, an ingrained and unnoticed bias in Australian culture.

Ageism distorts perceptions, highlighting mistakes and ignoring skills and accomplishments.

When it comes to ageing leaders, we need to weigh up their experience and expertise fairly, rather than focusing solely on age-related challenges.

To return to Joe Biden; for the sake of his legacy and given the high-stakes nature of his leadership, now might be the right time for him to step aside.

By making this decision, he would demonstrate that knowing when to leave is as crucial as knowing how to lead.

Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a workplace and social trends specialist