Go! When It Is Time To Leave

I attended several weddings last weekend. Obviously after a year of doing what I enjoyed most - setting up a small company and keeping busy with the schedules - this rare opportunity of meeting old friends certainly sparked a lot of issues.

Majority of us were retired and we were practically catching up with lost time and keeping ourselves recent.

While most of us came and gone with time, some of our friends were 'asked' to stay on to 'mentor' the next-in-line particularly those in the operations. They - the old red blood cells - aren't holding just operative or clerical positions but some of them are holding senior managerial positions. And, most have served the company no less than 25 years. Bravo for being so loyal!

But, we were wandering how could such situation happened in big organizations after these managers served the organizations for more than a quarter of a century. Within such span of time, the succession planning should have been well-placed. It could only occur when people put self interest before the organizations'. Such situations are transformed and are obviously counter productive to the organizations. These have become organizational culture.

Despite such policy at the operations or core business level, this so-called 'philosophy' don't seemed to be flowing in the veins of the top management. This is so when they believe in transfusions rather than having the same "old red blood cells.' We have heard and seen incumbents keeping their positions because the person(s) next in line is 'not ready for the job'. 'there are still a lot of unfinished job to be done' (wonder what is not finished?) etc. etc. etc. and the list goes on and on. Again, the irony is that such words are only coming from the incumbents at the top. Don't they realized that it is leaders' duty to build other leaders? Or it is that the game must be played within the inner circle?

It also triggers me that they (those who have been 'asked' to stay on) may be called to 'manually take-off or land planes' as and when needed, for, in many instances incumbents were positioned and are running on 'auto-pilot'. Once they have finished their jobs - 6 months, 1 year so on so forth - the incumbent captains will again take-over and again put the plane on 'auto-pilot'.

In one other weekend, I had to climb up a ladder to get to the rooftop to follow a handyman whom I hired to mend roof-leakages. It had reminded me that it is much easier to get to the top than going down. All you need to do is to keep looking at the top and take a step at a time. Getting down is rather scary, if you are not used to it. You may actually need some one to comfort and assure you of your safety.

I tend to believe that those who find it difficult to go when their time has come are in fact suffering from 'vertigo'. And, those who dare to go when the time comes, are those who have practice of 'going up and down the ladder'. The least is being mentally prepared. And, that needs practice.

There could be several reasons to explain why people are experiencing the 'vertigo syndrome':

1. They always had their heads in the clouds, hence they can't see the way down
2. They only know how to 'auto-pilot'. They do not know how to take-off and land the plane themselves
3. They never had sufficient practice of going up and down the ladder. They tell others to 'turun padang' but they preferred to stay in their 'ivory tower'
4. They put self before the organization.
5. They were sent up using an elevator and hence do not know how to get down.
6. They suffer vertigo

So, they stayed on until some one take them down using an elevator.

It just doesn't make much sense when some one who claimed that he knows how to go up the ladder himself but do not know how to get down. It is further nonsense to note that someone after having served the organization for no less than 25 - 30 years, still do not know what to do after his retirement. Could we say that this is the price one has to pay for not finding oneself? A karma?

Let me suggest that the first thing that you need to do is: go! when the time comes! Let others take on their job from there. These people need to start the way you started your career, lest you forget! Can they take on from where you left? Ask yourself that question and of course don't forget ask yourself your self-worth?

Connect yourself with those out there, pay back what you owe to the society and you will find that you are worth more than just being subservient!

Remember, even dying needs practice too.