How This Built-Over-Time Superpower Helps Older Adults Win
Years Of Life Experience Sharpen This Tool And Help Us Excel In All Endeavors
My mother often shared the following advice that went something like this:
“My experience allows me to see down the road further ahead than you can.”
I’ve worked in different industries and while there’s always a learning curve certain things remain pretty much the same. Some examples are: being punctual, communicating in a timely manner and tactfulness - to name a few. These traits are developed over time and, hopefully, become habits. We learn and store experiences for future use. Also, we learn through observing other people’s experiences. It can shave our life learning curve. This alone has helped me in different realms of life.
The Superpower Older Adults Possess
In the 1940s, British-American psychologist Raymond Cattell conceived two types of intelligences humans develop over their lifetime.
Fluid intelligence encompasses reasoning and problem-solving skills. These abilities tend to diminish with age.
A quick story before that second intelligence.
I was a senior in high school preparing for a social function. Had a fresh haircut, my formal attire on and almost ready to go.. I had a tie, but didn’t know how to tie it. Pressed for time, I thought, “who could help me right now?” I ran out of my apartment building and up the block to the wise, grizzled super at another building whose family I knew. Coco, as he was known, was probably in his 70s. He was kind enough to show me how to set up my tie. And all went well that night.
Crystallized intelligence refers to facts and experiences we learn over time. Including how to do something - like helping a teen with his tie. This type of smarts grows with age and experience.
Having crystallized intelligence helps us figure things out and adapt quicker to situations. Working a job, starting a business, getting married, raising a child, traveling overseas, applying for a certification are just some examples. You learn things not everyone knows and it affords you the opportunity to provide more value in society.
When I’ve read about a new CEO being named at a company I often wondered what qualified this person for the position. Among other skills, that executive has likely formed a crystallized knowledge which aids them in meeting their objectives. Regardless of the industry you’re still dealing with people, expectations, culture, churn, profit & loss among other factors.
Let’s make sure we’re acknowledging and applying the knowledge we’ve build over time. We each have unique skills and awareness which allows us to be difference makers in meaningful ways.
How have you used crystallized knowledge in some aspect of your life?