Changes in leadership are difficult, at best. There are no easy answers. Change creates anxiety and occasionally quiet celebrations, depending on the impact on individuals who stay behind. The common, unspoken, question — How does this impact me?
For me, change creates a new normal. Three senior faculty at UT are leaving for senior administrative positions at different universities. Closer to home, I am losing my right hand — as a young family makes sacrifices to move to Japan in service to our nation. All of them, good people, good friends and quiet confidantes. Some will be missed more than others, but we are all entitled to pursue our dreams or must pack our bags when duty calls.
The uncertainty can be unnerving, but it is an opportunity for others to step up to the plate and prove their mettle. Good organizations are never built on the backbone of any one individual. They are built on the foundation of shared values and a laser focus vision. And they survive, and in most cases blossom, when the seasons change.
About Hemant Rustogi