Time to Move On

As managers, we sometimes find ourselves having to say so long to an assistant who is, was a valuable asset to our success as a manager.  When it has been a mutually beneficial working relationship, it is most difficult but we must know when it is time for someone to move on toward whatever they’re needing for their career benefit.

And, as managers, part of our moral obligation is to properly utilize our assets.  Our valued employees are truly assets.  Now, there are various points of our jobs that are more than what is seen on the surface.  We are representatives of the companies at which we are employed, as much as we are service providers to the customers and mentors to our young associates.

Many of you have seen me mention my assistant, Brittany on a few occasions.  Well, the time for Brittany to move on has come.  An opening at one of the sister facilities proved too valuable for Brittany for me to not recommend her to fill it—more responsibilities, more hours and of course more pay goes with more hours.

Brittany has come a long way in the past year.  She finished her AS in Business and will complete her HR degree next month.  Accomplishments to be proud of, surely.  She grew from her skittishness when first speaking to customers on the phone to her now contacting customers who are delinquent on their billing and making arrangements for their payments.  The shy young woman who came to work for me but her eagerness to learn and prove herself to me, as well as herself, prevailed; and she became someone I could rely on to take care of things when I wasn’t in the office.

I was asked by someone how I could let her go but assuredly, I am not letting her go…I am encouraging her to move on and soak up some more of her life’s adventure.

There comes a time in every manager’s life when they realize they can do very little more to enhance an assistant’s knowledge in the workplace and must watch them move on.  That time for me and Brittany has come.  She won’t be far and when I go on my 4-day weekend next month, she’ll be filling in for me.  It makes me proud that she has reached a level of confidence to where she can venture out into a new work experience, as well as fill my spot in my absence.

I wish for her that the next phase be at least as pleasant as it was having her here with me.

So long my young friend…for now.

Jay 🙂