Leadership Chapter 38
“I hear the boss is going through the most”. “What do you mean?” someone else asks. Knowing fully well how quickly the corporate rumor mill spins, I sit this one out and try to avoid commenting. The last thing I would want at this point is “Amasi said”.
“He has been visiting the top floor a lot lately and apparently he is going to be moved.” “Moved to where someone else asks?”. “Apparently they are creating a small new department and he is going to move there.” Refusing to get involved in this conversation, I excuse myself and go off to the bathroom while the rumor mill spins. New department? “That sounds familiar but no man. It can’t be” I think to myself as I walk away from the table.
That night ends with lots of laughter and shared memories, I thank the team for working with me, “we will miss you” rings all around the table and we finally part ways.
Having asked for a week off before starting in the new company, I use this time to detox and think about my time in this role, what I had learned about myself, about working with others, from my experience with the boss and most importantly, what I would not do in my next job.
On reflection what was my biggest lesson? When I work for someone, I must work FOR them. In this job, I had become so excited by having so-called followers, having some sort of power and I had forgotten or even ignored the most important aspect of leadership. To serve my boss despite my personal biases. At the end of the day, he had employed me and given me this opportunity to grow.
Could my boss have done better? Of course, he could have BUT just like me, was an imperfect human being trying to do the best he could under difficult circumstances and while working with an uncontrollable young me. Was I to be on the receiving end of an “uncontrollable Amasi” in my new job? Absolutely!! In my first week in the new job.
A few weeks later, I was told that my boss had indeed taken up the role that I had declined, a much smaller portfolio. His role was advertised and I was made aware of this but chose not to apply. Did it tickle me that I had created the business case for the new department? Truth be told.. Yes
Next stop? Day 1 in my new company
Acquiring Operations Manager | Driving Operational Excellence in Payments & Client Experience Across Southern Africa | Expertise in Chargebacks, Settlements, and Risk Mitigation
4 年Amasi Mwela I've been waiting for the next chapter.
Accountant
4 年You are a leader and not a follower. Sometimes you have to do what is best for you.
Chief Departmental Officer / Departmental Manager at Stellenbosch University
4 年Take away leadership nuggets/lessons: 1. Stay away from rumour mills 2. Importance of taking time off and reflection/do an introspection on your personal development plan 3. Never forget to serve the one who brought you in 4. Leadership is a continous process
Customer Experience Leader | Banking | Masters in Digital Business
4 年Some valuable lessons there. We often focus on what we want to do in our next job and not what we need to unlearn / not do. ????