Managers have an on-going challenge to see that their staff are working to their optimum – doing interesting, challenging and things that engage many of their skills. The recent Gallup Journal article shows that the “Frustrating Forties” is a time when we’ve past learning the ropes and often aren’t getting much professional development. Not surprisingly, the trend of disengagement with this age group is higher for service workers performing routinized tasks.
An IRS report recently showed that IRS employees most likely to sneak a peek at a tax return other than their own have 10-15 years of experience. So it’s not like they didn’t know it was illegal. The consequence of looking at their favorite celebrity, neighbor or ex- just didn’t seem to bother them. “No one gets fired in the federal government.”
The aging process also influences how employees view their work, as demonstrated by psychologists’ findings that life goals and motivational factors tend to shift as people grow older. And as a multitude of career switchers can attest, midlife is a time when many people reevaluate their goals and make changes accordingly.
Managers must continually talk with staff to avoid career ‘ruts.’ Remember that what is important to you isn’t necessarily valued by others. Check in. You don’t know if you don’t ask.