A great leader faces the music, even when he doesn’t like the tune.” ~ Anon
Corporate endings
Businesses are made of people, and loss can be as devastating at work as it is in your personal life. It’s natural that people struggle and suffer when:
- Companies are merged or acquired
- Legacy brands are lost
- Departments are closed
- People are lost, or
- When leaders are shown the door.
Often, loyalty and trust issues escalate, and energy from normally dedicated employees gets diverted into fear-based resistance.
Authentic leadership during times of crisis honours the loss. You might wonder at the thought of a corporate funeral service, but people immediately “get” that something is passing away, never to return. It sets the traditional tone: to remember the good, bid farewell to the past, accept the change, and grieve the loss.
It’s a big challenge for any leader, especially one who is ensconced in logistical details. But in organizations who have undertaken this cutting-edge form of leadership, staff have lauded the courage of their managers.
Community ends
In a society more comfortable with beginnings than endings, there seems to be no recognized opposite of “the ribbon cutting ceremony.” Yet there are times when an initiative is closing, a beloved building or local landmark is being “deconstructed”, or a piece of history is being lost in the wake of progress.
At some point, a dignified farewell is the most valiant action you can take: to remember the past, to prepare for the future, and to heal the community. A ceremony that plans for these, gives people the opportunity to honour their collective past and commit to their unfolding future.