5 Years of a Boss: Passing Over

I was a boss for five years in a small unit which consisted about 20 staff at a time. I started as a novice and was never provided any training whether in administrations, operations or leadership. My predecessor chose me and she passed over to me without any proper written note. Then, I received a letter and started the work.

I always think about this today; how I had to learn everything myself. I decided I was not going to do that to my successor. I spent about one month to complete my task list to pass over to the next boss. I started early because I knew that most of the tasks are done monthly and I wanted to make sure I did not miss anything. A smooth transition is, after all, important as it ensures the continuity of a unit's operations.

But, as I completed my list, I realized that there are things that you cannot really pass over. The intangibilities, such as, your way of thinking and problem-solving, the work culture you cultivated within the unit and your leadership, are among the things you cannot really pass on to the next person. One of the most important thing you cannot pass over is - your personal thoughts on certain staff, as not to prejudice him. I realized this person needs to be given freedom to lead as he saw fit. My ways may not be suitable to the future problems he will face and he needs to know that I have really let go of this unit in order to flourish as a leader. This place needs to understand that I am not here anymore and move on together with the new leader without any remnants of past leadership.

Letting go of something that took so much of your time was not easy. When I think back now, probably, if I had not received an empty paper initially when I took over, I might have been bound to lead like my predecessor and would not be able to create a new work culture within the unit. I would probably be too scared to make changes as I would care too much about what my staff think of me. I would probably think that my predecessor's ways were the only way to lead in this place. So, probably that was a blessing in disguise.

The concept of passing over without any specifics can be applied to parenting too, I think. Parenting is all about guiding your children to be a better person...but, at the same time, you have to let them be free enough to be themselves. You cannot project yourself too much onto them, too. They are only half of you. You, yourself, are made of a myriad of active and inactive genes with different sets of activator proteins and enzymes. No one is a simple 0.5+0.5=1 equation.

I had the most calm Monday ever yesterday. But, I still get palpitations every time my phone rang and I caught myself thinking, "Argh who is going to take emergency / sick leave today..." lol

All the best to my old place.

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