Redefining old age and leadership

The other morning, I was listening on NPR, James Clyburn, a South Carolina US congressman promoting his new book, "The First Eight: A Personal History of Pioneering Black Congressman Who Shaped a Nation". The work highlights the stories of the first eight Black congressmen from the state, who served during, and after the Reconstruction era. 

At some point, Clyburn who is 85, is asked if he plans to run for office and his response was something like, “Well, I’m going to meet with my family late December to discuss just that”, but definitely didn’t say that he would not run again. 

This in view of congresswoman Pelosi deciding not to run again or of Biden second mandate fiasco, highlight the unconsciousness of some leaders when it comes to self-assessing their old age, still believing they are irreplaceable and thinking their experience is everything. 

Let me share my rebuke to that way of thinking. At almost 78 and still showing some serious signs of physical and intellectual energy, I can say that, all things being equal, I still do a lot of things, but in much shorter spurs. 

For instance, I’m currently learning Spanish and can get totally wiped out when I take too many lessons in one sitting. In other words, I do well but can’t hold the long distance anymore, or better said, my effective time is now greatly reduced, just like a person my age sees a drastic decline in their VO2Max. This means that at a leadership and executive level, the experience of an individual – as impressive as it may be - can’t quite compensate for that loss in productivity. 

Therefore, a president or any governmental executive functions including those of senators and representatives can no longer be executed at an expected performance level of 100%, than by say by someone in their 40s or 60s. That’s where the fallacy of thinking that any old person can do any job breaks down. 

Any job, perhaps but not for very long and a safe guardrail would be to limit politicians to an age of 70 to 75 maximum for the year of expiration of any of their mandate.