A 63 year-old Troy, Michigan marketing manager was in stable condition at a local hospital Tuesday following an A-Ha! Moment Collapse (AHMC) at his company’s executive retreat.
While younger workers can easily tolerate A-Ha! moments – defined as “suddenly understanding a previously incomprehensible concept, often accompanied by a rapid arm movement and a strong slap to the forehead” – they’re often too strenuous for those over 60.
According to Collette Weaver of Pews-Nelson Interpretations, AHMC is becoming more common as companies keep introducing new technological innovations.
“Older managers are trying to show they’re with it by having more and more A-Ha moments,” she says. “But the increase means more of them are collapsing.” US cases of AHMC have risen from 118 in 2003 to over seven million last year.
It is believed the Troy manager collapsed due to the exertion of shouting “A-Ha!” loudly enough to be heard over the chatter of his younger colleagues. Others have knocked themselves out by slapping their foreheads too hard. Whatever the case, most workers who suffer a collapse are out of commission for at least a week
Weaver recommends that companies pay close attention to the impact of innovation on older managers.
“Without suggesting ageism, most older workers aren’t cut out for A-Ha moments,” she says. “Companies would be wise to keep them away from seminars, retreats, web-based software and new ideas of any kind.”
