A Bittersweet Goodbye: A Workplace Heartbreak
So, this just happened. My right-hand person is packing up her desk and heading off to future. Cue sad trombone sound effect I’m not gonna lie, I’m feeling a bit like Ross from Friends right now: “Oh. My. God. It’s gonna be so weird not having you around.”
Change is a constant in our lives, a relentless tide that washes over us, sometimes gently, sometimes with a crashing wave, right?
It’s a bittersweet moment, a mix of excitement and sadness. It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend, a familiar face in the office. There’s a pang of loss, a fear of the unknown and a sense of uncertainty about the future.
To help navigate this emotional roller-coaster, I’ve turned to a simple yet powerful tool: Maia Beatty’s 3 Buckets. It’s a framework that helps us categorise our thoughts and feelings into three buckets:
- What we can control: Our attitude, our communication and our actions.
- What we can influence: The recruitment process, seeking advice or suggesting alternative solutions.
- What’s out of our control: The timing of the departure and other external factors.
By focusing on what we can control and influence, we reduce stress and anxiety. It’s like taming a wild beast, one step at a time.
Leaders, it’s important to acknowledge the emotions of the team. Normalise celebrating the exiting team member’s contributions and wish them well in their future adventures. At the same time, let’s address the concerns of the remaining team members and reassure them that we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.
This got me thinking about the nature of staff changes in teams we serve. Is it a simple transition, a mere ripple in the pond? Or is it a seismic shift, a disruption that shakes things up?
As leaders, how we perceive these changes can significantly impact how we navigate them. Do we view them as opportunities for reinvention and improvement, or as threats to stability and productivity?
What’s your perspective on team member churn? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments 👇
