In short
Why U.S. business professionals resist retirement, based on a decade-long study shared in an HBR piece.
Guests
No guests mentioned; the host/presenter references their team’s research.
Key claims
Retirement triggers identity loss (job defines self), fear of leaving meaningful work without a next step, and relationship erosion (feeling invisible after being central).
Notable examples
A senior manager describes retirement as moving from “center of attention to invisible.” Identity bridging example: keeping a “leader identity” by leading a community organization. Relationship coping example: building new connections while retaining important workplace ties. Framework: the 4 A’s—Alignment, Awareness, Agency, Adaptability.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOUnderstanding Resistance to Retirement
0:04 to 0:21
Learn about the psychological challenges that business leaders face when retiring.
“It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks.”
Understanding Resistance to Retirement
0:56 to 2:20
Learn about the psychological challenges that business leaders face when retiring.
“Ever wondered why retiring can be so tough for business leaders?”
Transcript
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0:56Teresa M. Amabile:Ever wondered why retiring can be so tough for business leaders? In my recent HBR piece, I share results from my team's decade-long study of retiring among U.S. business professionals. We discovered three big psychological hurdles and how to clear them. First, identity issues. Ending a career can make professionals question who they are without their job. What helps? Identity bridging, like keeping your leader identity alive by leading a community organization. Second, the fear of leaving meaningful work. Many feel like they're leaping into the void without a clear next step. Those who transition smoothly often have a vision for their post-career life.
1:39Teresa M. Amabile:Third, losing strong workplace relationships. A senior manager described retirement as going from the center of attention to invisible. To cope, focus on building new connections and retaining important ones. We've found the 4 A's can help. Alignment, Awareness, Agency, and Adaptability. Assess alignment between your life and who you are now. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Exercise agency by making necessary changes. And adapt to uncontrollable events. There's no right age to retire. It's about knowing yourself and your job's demands. For more, go to hbr.org.
From the publisher
Why People Resist Retirement
6 Sep 2024
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Research suggests making the decision to retire means grappling with three psychological issues.
1) First, identity issues can loom large for any deeply engaged professional. Even a small step away from a career can make a person wonder who they are without it.
2) Second, many older professionals resist leaving meaningful work.
3) Finally, the third is the dread of losing the strong relationships that accumulate over the course of a long, successful career.
HBS Professor Teresa M. Amabile offers advice for dealing with each of these.
Read the full article: https://s.hbr.org/3XB0Eaf
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