Just Mofe @mofedominic - Twitter Profile

This hit harder than I expected. One thing I believe is that Experience doesn't become less valuable simply because it's quiet. Some of the most dependable people in any organization aren't the ones seeking the spotlight, they're the ones keeping everything from falling apart behind the scenes. The sad reality is that visibility is often mistaken for value, while consistency, wisdom, and institutional knowledge are taken for granted. Organizations that overlook their most experienced people may gain fresh faces, but they risk losing the judgment that only years of experience can provide. Recognition shouldn't only reward those who speak the loudest; it should also honor those who have faithfully carried the weight for years. A healthy workplace needs both fresh perspectives and seasoned wisdom.

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MofeDominic retweeted

Sumer Datta

@SumerDattaa

8 days ago

I met someone last week who just quit after 18 years with the same company. Not because he couldn’t do the job but… because he was overlooked for promotion for the third time. He was in his late 40s. A middle manager by title. Fifteen years in the organisation. Consistent results. No drama. No politics. He paused for a moment, then said in a voice that barely held together, “I think I’ve become invisible.” He wasn’t angry but there was a pain in his voice, and a tiredness in his eyes - the kind that comes from fighting to stay relevant in a room that's already decided you're outdated. He told me about how every time a new role opens up, they look past him. They say they want fresh energy. New perspective. Someone more…”visible.” He also told me about sitting in strategy meetings where his suggestions were met with polite nods, then dismissed. Two weeks later, a younger colleague would make the exact same suggestion, and everyone called it innovative - exactly what the company needs. "I stopped speaking up after a while," he said. "What's the point? They've already decided I'm yesterday's thinking." Then he added something that stayed with me: “The younger ones speak louder. They’re confident and they network well. So people assume they’re better leaders. People like me just keep the system running.” This is the unsaid grief of so many experienced professionals. Not fired Not failing Just…overlooked + They train the next generation. + They mentor & stabilise teams. + They carry institutional memory. + They solve problems before they become crises. But because they don’t shout, because they don’t posture, because they don’t play politics, they slowly disappear from the promotion list. I’ve watched this happen across organisations: The ones who built the foundation are quietly replaced by the ones who know how to present the slides. Youth brings speed. But experience brings judgment. And leadership needs both. This man didn’t leave because he hated his work. He left because he felt unseen doing it. So here’s my reminder to leaders: Look again at your middle layer. And ask: Who is carrying the load without applause? Who is teaching without credit? Who is loyal without leverage? Because when experience is ignored, organisations lose wisdom. And when wisdom leaves, mistakes get louder. The future of work cannot belong only to the loudest voice in the room. It must also honour the deepest one. And sometimes, the most radical leadership act is simply to say to someone who’s been overlooked too long: “I see you. And you still matter.”