Exploring age bias in the workplace

Today is my birthday, which has prompted me to think about age in the professional context.

For as long as I can remember, I have been dismissed or underestimated for looking too young. I have been told: “You need to state your credentials and experience up front so that people will take you seriously”, “You came across as a girl, and they’re looking for a woman.” (I was 34 for that one) and “You don’t look like you run a business” (I hear this one almost weekly.)

I remember every word of these comments and others like them because, from the moment they were uttered, I internalized them and they shaped how I felt I needed to show up in the world. Over time, they ushered in a series of compensating behaviours such as speaking louder, interrupting more, refusing to show weakness or ask for help, hiding my body, compartmentalizing my personal and professional lives, and ultimately acting out of alignment with who I truly was.

And recently it struck me that one day (tomorrow, 10 years from now, or perhaps it’s already happening!) I will be dismissed and underestimated for looking too old.

Which made me realize – will there have been one day in my career when I (or anyone else for that matter) looked "just right"?

When I reflect on myself, none of the age-related assumptions about competence, ambition and productivity seem to fit. So why would I ever assume they fit anyone else?

I could argue that any of the following points are counter intuitive. I did some of my best work in my early 20s – with fresh eyes and zero business background. But I also took myself more seriously at that age then I do now. I have more energy and stamina now than I did when I started working, and I am also more ambitious now vs. then (the difference is that the metrics have become more purpose-driven vs. achievement-oriented).

And how are people determining if someone seems too old or too young? It feels like it’s usually based on superficial factors such as clothing style, how fast one talks, and expressiveness of body language vs. more meaningful ones such as emotional maturity, articulateness, and wisdom. So, why do we let these cursory judgements hold so much weight?

So, this year, I’d love to get intentional about overcoming my unconscious age bias. Does this resonate for you? If you're on the other side of this journey, how have you let go of age-related assumptions?