Whether you are moving to a different city, or leaving your parents house for the first time to live on your own, saying Goodbye is hard! How about when it is work related?
Tomorrow, I embark on a new challenge… still for the same company but with a complete new team. I can ear you now: why is it so hard to say Goodbye if you are staying with the same company? Here’s why…
First, a few facts: have you ever noticed that we spend a significant amount of time at work? We spend 25% of the hours in one week at the office (this is at a 40 h work week). We spend 33% of our time sleeping (if we do get the 8 h sleep/night). The remaining 42% is spent juggling the rest of our busy lives such has kids activities, house chores, laundry, cooking, etc. You haven’t taken time for yourself yet and did not have quality time with your spouse.
When taking all this in consideration, the people we interact with at work become sort of our second family. Just like family, sometimes we get along, sometimes we don’t. There are good days and bad days. Since we spend 25% of our time with our team at work, we eventually develop a synergy with these people. I know, I know… it is not always this way for everyone!
When I embarked in this adventure a little over 2 years ago, I already knew a few team members and got to meet new comers. It was a little nerve wracking… different personalities, different mind set, different ways of working… will everyone get along?
Today, I can say this… the team I am leaving is like family. For me to be able to let myself be vulnerable, emotional and let tears roll down freely means that there is a special bond there. Why am I leaving? Just like I had to leave my parents house to live a new personal adventure, I am leaving this team to live a new professional adventure. Even though I am leaving them, they will always remain family!
This is not Goodbye… it’s see you later!
