In a world obsessed with youth, speed, and “what’s next,” we cannot forget this: Experience is not only still valuable, it is dangerous not to have it.
The December 8, 2024 edition of Morning Brew provided the results of a study of over 9,000 animal species. Whether it was orcas, elephants, or deep-sea corals, their behavior revealed something remarkable — when the oldest members of a species disappear, the entire ecosystem starts to fall apart. Why? Because the elders have collective memory. They remember!
Let me explain.
Older elephants know where the dangerous lions are. The mother orcas know where the salmon run. Deep-sea coral has provided shelter for entire ecosystems for hundreds of years. And on and on and on….
Experienced leaders know how to lead when others panic. As the researchers put it, we need “longevity conservation” — a focus on preserving the wisdom that only time can teach. In turn, this wisdom preserves and protects entire communities.
The researchers also discovered that when animal herds lose their elders due to poaching or natural causes, the entire community is at risk. They are no longer protected from predators or led to the finest breeding or feeding areas.
As an experienced leader, you do not just bring years — you bring value. You bring wisdom, institutional knowledge, context, pattern recognition, scar tissue, and seasoned instincts. While others react, you respond. When others guess, you guide.
Your experience is a lighthouse for those navigating storms they have never seen before.
Too many leaders self-disqualify because they cannot run as fast as they used to. But leadership is not always about speed — it is about direction. It is about using your past to protect your team’s future.
So here is the challenge: Don’t just age. Add value. Speak up in meetings. Mentor someone who is still learning the ropes. Make the tough call no one else sees coming.
Because in every field, from the ocean to the savanna to the C-suite, when the wise stop leading, the next generation starts wandering.
Brand New Free Resource
Adam Grant wrote in his book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, “The goal isn’t to be the smartest person in the room; it’s to make the entire room smarter.”
Making the entire room smarter is a noble endeavor for any leader. Using the profile of the smartest person author and leadership expert I know, the following resource will equip you to help those you influence get smarter and more effective in everything they do.
Click HERE or on the image provided to receive my complimentary resource 8 Signs You’re The Smartest Person In The Room Checklist.
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