September 2021 WGR DEI Committee Blog

The September 2021 DEI Committee Meeting focused on the topic of Age and Organizational Power. This discussion was led by DEI Committee Member, Chris Metzler. To set up the conversation, Chis asked members to consider three questions:

Question 1: What power do older or younger women have that they can use in organizations?

Question 2: Are there barriers between “generations” in the workplace? Do these help or hinder goal accomplishment? How can we take down or lessen barriers and/or build bridges to exchange expertise and perspective?

Question 3: We hold beliefs and stereotypes about ourselves and others. What ageist beliefs do we hold about:

• Ourselves?
• Those who are younger?
• Those who are older?

And how can we view generational differences as a positive, and use them to create better connections?

These questions led to a meaningful discussion on the impact age and gender play in the workforce. One member expressed the importance of women in senior positions saying, "If you don't see someone who looks like you, then you don't think those are positions you can aspire to." Women who reach senior levels within their careers can have a profound impact on the next generation and young professionals because their presence tells other women you can be here, too. Members shared their personal experiences of how having a woman mentor has helped their career and how they have benefited from the many women who have paved the way before them.
While we benefit from women who have reached levels of seniority, it's also important to acknowledge that their paths may not have been easy. A member shared what it was like to get left out or talked over during meetings. Despite those obstacles, however, she fought her way through to serve her purpose.

It's also important to share the knowledge and wisdom that exists between generations. One of our more experienced members shared how she offers herself as a resource to help younger women succeed. In addition, a number of the younger Committee members expressed examples of ways in which they have provided valuable information and resources to their more senior colleagues. A critical aspect of mentorship is trust and a desire to seek understanding. Participants also addressed how important it is to build genuine relationships and mentorships proactively before issues arise, so there is a foundation of trust built before having something to work through. A member shared a great example of setting a culture with stronger work-life boundaries, a shift inspired by younger employees who had started at the company during COVID-19.

During the conversation, Chris referenced a podcast she provided to the group as a pre-read called, "Too Old to Get Promoted with Bonnie Marcus." In the podcast, Bonnie Marcus noted, "...so we hide our age and as a result we relinquish our power," which led to final thoughts related to the questions of what false beliefs we hold about our age and how we can overcome these beliefs and find our power. There are complexities that come with age and personal identities and how they show up in the workplace, but the more we can embrace each other, the better off we will be! Chris wrapped up the discussion by quoting Bonnie Marcus: "Cross-generational networks facilitate diversity of thought, which leads to increased creativity and innovation."

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-metoo-ageism-older-women-discrimination-0321-20190320-story.html

https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/518305-women-rise-on-k-street-slowly

https://www.rollcall.com/2016/03/08/in-congress-women-over-50-reign/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bonniemarcus/2021/01/11/cross-generational-networking-is-a-win-win-for-employees-and-their-organization-so-why-dont-we-do-it/?sh=4d74c7ba6c26

https://chief.com/articles/generation-x-leaders?mkt_tok=NzAyLUNJSS01MDcAAAF-4C6-iZHQ1vCtojLN45QFSmHCM6ZYWjSrKErz1HNkli4oyPBSGqlCH58gmdWZozjGLU4bgpSYvcRF0W3V_Schc1ocqa93mEHlbrhIIb2Qfg

https://evolutionizemedia.com/podcast/dare-to-leap/too-old-to-get-promoted-bonnie-marcus/

We welcome all WGR members to join us each month at our DEI Committee Meetings! The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 12th from 11:30am - 1:00pm. Please register for the October Meeting here: Women In Government Relations (wgr.org) For more information on WGR’s DEI Committee, please reach out to dei.wgr@gmail.com.

This month’s blog is authored by DEI Committee Member and Lead Blogger Madisyn Rhone.