GOOD. CHANGE.
- whatshesaid2020
- Jul 9, 2021
- 2 min read
In a world of change, I'm not sure its always good.
This week I said good-bye to the most wonderful Executive Assistant. She was efficient, innovative, and organized. She was a crucial part of our development department's team and brought a great perspective on project management. She organized leadership development seminars. She balanced my emails and calendar. She balanced finance reports. She was my gatekeeper and kept me organized.
I felt supported by her loyalty, transparency, and yes, even differences of opinions at times. It was not a boss-employee relationship, but a co-team ideology that made me a better leader, supervisor, and yes, boss.
When it came time for me to stand before her and a group of gathered colleagues at her farewell, I promised myself I wouldn't get emotional. I even picked lyrics from the musical Wicked that expressed my feelings about knowing her and working with her.
I shouldn't make promises I can't keep (cue tear)!
I explained to our audience that as a good Kansas girl, I have seen the Wizard of Oz hundreds of times in my lifetime. What I discovered was my love for the musical, Wicked, which I have seen in stage productions about a handful of times. It pre-dates the Wizard as its the storyline between two women that started as rivals, but in their differences became friends.
Wicked is about a friendship between two women that were going in different directions in life. They had been schoolmates for awhile, but now as adults they were finding their own paths.
One for good and one for bad. Here is the exchange between Glinda and Elphaba in the song, "For Good."
I've heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return Well, I don't know if I believe that's true But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you
Like a comet pulled from orbit As it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder Halfway through the wood Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But Because I knew you I have been changed for good.
Leadership is about letting go. It's about influencing others so they want to let go. My Ex Asst. told me that the reason she needed a change was because she needed to grow in her career. I respect that!
She also told me that my leadership style influenced her to step out in change. I am blessed by that!
Her goals are management one day. I applaud that!
When was the last time someone told you "your leadership influenced me enough to want to make a change?" For me it's been...well I can't remember a time.
While I may have cried about this good change, I truly know that it is for the better for the person that I influenced.
I will miss her, but she promised not to be gone from friendship and volunteerism. One day she will rule the world and I will stand back and be in awe of her. Shoot...I already am! She changed me for the good.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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