Exiting The Company

As my friend Courtney Intersimone noted in her post yesterday, while leaving an organization as a result of a downsizing is hard, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost value or the ability to be of service.??That knowledge, however, doesn’t always make the passage easier. It is especially difficult for people who devoted years of their lives to help their organizations succeed, often working long hours and making numerous personal sacrifices.??In these cases especially, the abruptness of a sudden exit can seem rude or uncaring. And it is natural to ask: What was it all for???What did I accomplish? What is there to mark my time at this organization?

Sometimes the answer to the legacy question is not obvious. However, I daresay if you look closely, you will see there is quite a lot there.??The work you have done has helped move the organization forward so another generation can have its turn. And in doing so, you likely would have had to help overcome some historic challenges, like 9/11, Hurricane Sandy and the Great Recession. That’s no small potatoes.??And some of the things you’ve helped build may persist for quite a while.??But in my opinion, if you’ve done this gig well, the biggest part of your legacy is the impact you’ve had on others. Clients, colleagues, consultants, and vendors.??The experiences you’ve shared, the friendships you’ve built, the challenges you’ve overcome, the fun you’ve had, and the ways you have helped others succeed. Those things matter and no one can take them away. The most important thing in this life is human relationships.??And if you’ve done the job right, a large part of your work legacy lies here.

So for those who are moving onto new beginnings don’t forget to take the relationships, knowledge and stories as you go.??And for those who stay to carry the ball forward, remember, you are at the same time building your own legacies.