Over my career I have observed work colleagues who have behaved as if they were indispensable.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great feeling (if you like that sort of thing) to be the one that people rely on, when your views and opinions are highly valued and your influence can make a difference to a group accepting or rejecting an idea. It provides a level of internal status and visibility that is certainly good for the ego.<\/p>\n
But for everyone there comes a time when you leave an organization and you discover that, like climbing out of a swimming pool, the hole in the water you leave behind is, well, nonexistent.\u00a0 After you are gone, organizations continue to operate \u2013 maybe worse, maybe better.\u00a0 Decisions get made, products get launched, systems get designed, and all without your input.<\/p>\n
So if you can\u2019t leave behind a hole in the water, how can you have ongoing influence and feel like you made a difference to an organization?\u00a0 Quite simply, leave your organization better when you leave than it was when you arrived.<\/p>\n
Implement changes in tools, processes and products.<\/p>\n
And one more thing \u2013 be open to learning something yourself, so that when you leave an organization you are wiser, more thoughtful, more patient and open to other people\u2019s ideas.\u00a0 After all, you have new places to go and new issues to be involved with and you need to start filling in the hole in the water left by someone else.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t