AGEISM AT WORK

Have you ever consciously tried to appear older or younger than you are? Have you ever deleted the years off your resume or LinkedIn profile? Ageism is real, and as an executive communication coach, I've seen firsthand how pervasive and insidious ageism can be in the workplace. My clients often ask me whether they can delete years from their resume. Probably not, especially if you're on the job market and filling out a form.

But don't worry — there are things you can do to combat ageism. Recently, when I was on stage, delivering a keynote address to a large audience, someone asked me a perplexing question. I realized that my answer to this question had changed recently.

So I paused and declared, "I am 54 years old and still learning!" After my keynote, several people approached me and specifically complimented me on mentioning my age. Interesting. People seem to appreciate it when we defy the age taboo — especially when we're old.

Since then I've done a lot of research and thinking about this topic, and I've identified three ways that you can combat ageism at work. Whether you're a leader shaping your organization's culture or a victim of ageism yourself, it's critical to understand its significance and find effective ways to combat it. Significance of ageism Ageism isn't just about being "too old.

" Yes, it often targets those of us who have amassed a wealth of experience over the years, but it can also affect younger professionals. The assumption that younger employees l.