Emotional Detachment from ‘Talents’
March 2, 2007
This realization just hit me…some bosses and business owners are having a hard time letting go of some employees. Is it because they are sad to see them go? Or angry perhaps to be leaving them at such a critical time? Or sorry that they have not put much effort to make them stay? Whatever reason/s they may have…is it proper to give the employee the cold shoulder upon tendering his resignation? I think not…for one thing, employment is a choice. Actually, everything in this world is a choice – happiness, relationships, status, jobs (this topic alone deserves a new post). Point is, to stay or not to stay in one company is entirely up to the employee…and oh…let me correct my term…an employee is a ‘talent’.
In one of the four Tom Peters Essentials, entitled ‘Talent’, he could not emphasize more that lifetime employment is out and lifetime self-invention is in (again for future post). Thus, bosses and owners alike should learn how to detach from talents that come their way. Be glad that they have contributed something…that they have been part of the organization…but let them move on. Emotional detachment is key, though this is not to say lose your compassion for them. It’s more of being happy for them, especially if they so choose to be on their own…
March 2, 2007 at 6:52 am
I’ve been in the same situation a few times before and graceful exits are just rare. I guess many employers are having trouble distinguishing passion to your work from having no option at all. It’s also funny that when you resign they would assume something is wrong when in fact you only wanted to move on and build your career.