Leaders: It Shouldn't Be Hard To Say Goodbye

Remember the song, “It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday?” For leaders, it shouldn’t be. One of my mentors taught me long ago that true leaders know when it’s time to go, step down, or step aside. When you become a leader, the focus is not on you anymore, it’s on others. Your leadership position was never intended for you to hold onto it as long as you want. It’s not about you. Far too often, we hear leaders say things like, “I want to be the longest serving (fill in the blank),” or “I’ll leave when my financially able to”, or “I’ll leave when I’m ready to leave.” That’s all we hear, “I”, “I”, “I”. Stop. It’s not about you anymore.

"It’s not about you anymore."

Here’s a litmus test for leaders. Are you holding anyone else up from promotion? Are you holding the organization hostage? Have you become stagnant? Are you still relevant to the organization? Are your best people leaving you? If the answer is yes to one or more, then perhaps it’s time to go. It’s not personal, it’s just business.

You’re not that good. No one is. If you think you are so great that the organization is going to suffer if you leave, then you’re either lying to yourself or you’ve surrounded yourself with people that won’t tell you otherwise.

Just what are you holding onto anyway? Whatever it is, it wasn’t yours to begin with. So give it up if you can’t pass the litmus test. Move on, enjoy life, and allow others the same opportunity you were given. Trust me, the organization (members) will continue to move forward, and probably feel immediate acceleration from new ideas and a renewed motivation.

"Whatever it is, it wasn’t yours to begin with."

You’ve been blessed to be able to lead others. Don’t overstay your welcome. 

True leaders know when it’s time to go.

You can contact Andy at [email protected]