'Allow experience to take the lead'
Most Sri Lankan leaders especially in the public sector have a
misconception that an old person is wiser than a young person. What is
experience? People have experience in different fields. The fact remains
that everyone who lives has 'life experience', this means nothing. Just
because you experience an incident doesn't mean that you have learnt the
lessons.
Employers value experience because of the costs associated with
training and the productivity levels of experienced employees versus
those with no experience. Experience is used as a general indicator of
one's ability.
We come across brilliant young people with more experience than a
person who is much older. It's the outcome of experience that is of
value. So it's the ability, thinking and application. Thinking, to
decide acutely and application, to execute effectively. These two
primary actions ensure targeted delivery of outcome.
Age doesn't make a man wiser
Wisdom comes with intelligence. Age and experience alone will not
produce wisdom, as the saying goes 'some people never learn'. I have
found that one of the best things I ever learned was to admit to myself
that I was wrong about things in life that I thought I had a handle on,
once this occurred to me, I became wiser. A part of becoming wise is to
be able to readjust our thinking. I come across many mature people who
don't have a drop of wisdom.
On the other hand, some gain wisdom from experience but many continue
to make the same mistakes. There is a small group of people who have
wisdom because they learned from their experience and this requires time
which is age.
There are different types of people. Some like to read the plaques at
a museum. Some want to understand about a particular subject in depth or
really know what's going on in the world. Others get wasted and party
all the time and think books are only useful when the toilet paper is
gone!.
Employers are looking for 'ability' not 'experience'
When an employer posts an advertisement saying a certain amount of
experience is necessary, what they are really saying is: They want to be
sure they get applicants who know what they are doing, They do not want
to spend excessive money on training, or They want applicants who have
already made their 'beginners' mistakes.
If you can meet these concerns without having the practical
experience the company may be looking for, you have just as good, if not
a better chance at competing with applicants who have experience.
Never underestimate your own abilities. Ability, not experience, is
what employers are really looking for. Experience just happens to be an
excellent indicator of one's ability. Convince the employer of your
ability and your lack of practical experience will not be a handicap.
Every great person in any field had to start somewhere without
experience. The world is full of exceptionally talented and gifted
people who will remain undiscovered because of their self-imposed
limitations due to inexperience.
Do not be one of these people. Gain either the traditional or
creative experience needed to enhance your abilities and be the best you
can be. Our leaders should make the effort to correctly assess and trust
the abilities of the younger generation to grow faster.
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