When you suggest a new approach, he says: “I’ve done this for forty years.” That is the Experience Shield in action.
The shield closes the conversation. The goal is to open it. You do that by making his experience part of the new idea instead of something the new idea has to defeat.
Practical Techniques
Acknowledge His Experience First
Say: “What you learned from that situation makes sense. That approach worked then.” Then add the new element.
He is more likely to consider a new idea once he knows the old one is not being dismissed. The order matters. Acknowledgment first.
Ask How to Combine Old and New
Do not ask him to replace his approach. Ask him to help blend it with yours.
Say: “Given what you know about how this went wrong before, what should we watch out for with this new version?” He uses his experience as a contribution. The question does that.
Ask for His Expert Critique
Invite him to evaluate the new idea using what he knows.
Say: “What would you change about this proposal to make it work better?” He stops defending against the idea. He starts shaping it. The experience becomes useful.
Why This Works
The shield goes up when he feels his experience is being ignored. When you acknowledge it first, there is nothing to defend. He can think about the actual question.
This only works if you mean it
Fake acknowledgment backfires. If you do not genuinely want his input, do not ask for it.