It's been a week since Bimbo told us that he had already filed his resignation. Joe (my boss) is still bummed out and he's still quipping "why is this jerk leaving my team?" -- jokingly of course, but as most would say, jokes are usually half-meant. Everyone who knew Bimbo and the history of my team knew why his leaving the company, at this point in time, brings us deep grief and sadness.
I'm still weirded out by it all, but that's an understatement. How else could I describe my feelings right now? Disturbed, depressed, confused, uncertain, nervous, betrayed, angry, jealous, bitter... You'd think someone dear to me had just died. But that's exactly how I feel. I'm being selfish, I know.
Why am I so sad, you may wonder. It's as simple as this: Bimbo is the best boss I've ever had. I've been working before I graduated from college, that's 8 years and a little over 2 months now. I've had 8 bosses before I joined my current company. Bimbo was my 9th boss (Joe would be the 11th), and he's done more for me than any of my former managers ever did ("former" -- doesn't include Joe. I'll talk about him at another time). What made Bimbo outstanding as a manager is what a lot of top management books and experts are championing: leadership is not just about the ability to manage difficult situations and leading your people to success; it's about compassion and influence, the willingness to invest in others so that others would succeed.
Bimbo has always said that, the main reason why he's stayed this long in this company is because -- even if he's already jaded -- he's found fulfillment in seeing other people grow. We both shared the same principles about putting people in the right roles, encouraging others to go for their dreams, developing a balance between work and life, and protecting your team. He once said that I had a knack for connecting with people on an emotional level, and that it made him think about changing the way he managed us (and it was good that he did because that took our relationship from master-paduan to trusted confidantes. We could yell at each other and still be on the level). Sure, Bimbo's not perfect (being human like all of us), but the best lesson I learned from him about people management is, to create opportunities for people to grow and succeed. It seems very common sense, but it's much, much harder than it sounds. It took me a while before I really understood it, because I first had to learn distinguishing between just delivering results versus delivering results by developing people.
John Maxwell shared this quote from a distinguished business leader, "Men are developed the same way that gold is mined... you go into the mine not looking for dirt, you go into the mine looking for gold." I used to look at my team as chess pieces (strategy), now I'm seeing the gold in them and so I treat them as such (valuables).
Last Friday, I gave Bimbo a copy of "Watchmen" -- considered a legend in the world of graphic novels. Another interest that we both shared (apart from dark beer, rock music, Star Wars, and CSI Las Vegas) is the art form called graphic novels. I had attached a post-it note with a few (what I would hope) poignant words on the cover, and when I placed the book on his desk in front of him, he was drawn to the note so it took him a few seconds before he finally realized what the book was. Once he did, Bimbo went from shocked ("Oh my God") to awed ("Sh*t") to overwhelmed (looked at me with disbelief) all in 5 seconds. He stood up from his seat and gave me a big hug. Bimbo has never hugged me before. I don't think he's ever hugged any co-worker before. The moment almost made me cry (I've been wanting to cry since the day he told us he was leaving), but I held it back because this picture of him and me crying at the same time quickly flashed in my mind and it wasn't pretty at all. So anyway, it was better since I was able to explain why I gave him "Watchmen" (of all books), "When you told me about it, it sounded like it was a really good thing for you." To which he replied, "Yes, it was. It was what got me hooked on graphic novels in the first place." That bit of trivia made me feel happy and sad at the same time, I can't explain why.
Bimbo's exit literally is the end of an era for our team. It will be very, very different from hereon. He pioneered knowledge management in this company five years ago, and he has invested in so many people in our team. He will always be an important element in our success in the coming years.
Hey Bims: I would also take a bullet for you. Thanks for everything, and may God enrich you a hundredfold until you have no room to contain all of His blessings.
I'm still weirded out by it all, but that's an understatement. How else could I describe my feelings right now? Disturbed, depressed, confused, uncertain, nervous, betrayed, angry, jealous, bitter... You'd think someone dear to me had just died. But that's exactly how I feel. I'm being selfish, I know.
Why am I so sad, you may wonder. It's as simple as this: Bimbo is the best boss I've ever had. I've been working before I graduated from college, that's 8 years and a little over 2 months now. I've had 8 bosses before I joined my current company. Bimbo was my 9th boss (Joe would be the 11th), and he's done more for me than any of my former managers ever did ("former" -- doesn't include Joe. I'll talk about him at another time). What made Bimbo outstanding as a manager is what a lot of top management books and experts are championing: leadership is not just about the ability to manage difficult situations and leading your people to success; it's about compassion and influence, the willingness to invest in others so that others would succeed.
Bimbo has always said that, the main reason why he's stayed this long in this company is because -- even if he's already jaded -- he's found fulfillment in seeing other people grow. We both shared the same principles about putting people in the right roles, encouraging others to go for their dreams, developing a balance between work and life, and protecting your team. He once said that I had a knack for connecting with people on an emotional level, and that it made him think about changing the way he managed us (and it was good that he did because that took our relationship from master-paduan to trusted confidantes. We could yell at each other and still be on the level). Sure, Bimbo's not perfect (being human like all of us), but the best lesson I learned from him about people management is, to create opportunities for people to grow and succeed. It seems very common sense, but it's much, much harder than it sounds. It took me a while before I really understood it, because I first had to learn distinguishing between just delivering results versus delivering results by developing people.
John Maxwell shared this quote from a distinguished business leader, "Men are developed the same way that gold is mined... you go into the mine not looking for dirt, you go into the mine looking for gold." I used to look at my team as chess pieces (strategy), now I'm seeing the gold in them and so I treat them as such (valuables).
Last Friday, I gave Bimbo a copy of "Watchmen" -- considered a legend in the world of graphic novels. Another interest that we both shared (apart from dark beer, rock music, Star Wars, and CSI Las Vegas) is the art form called graphic novels. I had attached a post-it note with a few (what I would hope) poignant words on the cover, and when I placed the book on his desk in front of him, he was drawn to the note so it took him a few seconds before he finally realized what the book was. Once he did, Bimbo went from shocked ("Oh my God") to awed ("Sh*t") to overwhelmed (looked at me with disbelief) all in 5 seconds. He stood up from his seat and gave me a big hug. Bimbo has never hugged me before. I don't think he's ever hugged any co-worker before. The moment almost made me cry (I've been wanting to cry since the day he told us he was leaving), but I held it back because this picture of him and me crying at the same time quickly flashed in my mind and it wasn't pretty at all. So anyway, it was better since I was able to explain why I gave him "Watchmen" (of all books), "When you told me about it, it sounded like it was a really good thing for you." To which he replied, "Yes, it was. It was what got me hooked on graphic novels in the first place." That bit of trivia made me feel happy and sad at the same time, I can't explain why.
Bimbo's exit literally is the end of an era for our team. It will be very, very different from hereon. He pioneered knowledge management in this company five years ago, and he has invested in so many people in our team. He will always be an important element in our success in the coming years.
Hey Bims: I would also take a bullet for you. Thanks for everything, and may God enrich you a hundredfold until you have no room to contain all of His blessings.
2 comments:
I had the same feelings too. I didn't know how should I handle the news. I texted Connie just to let out my feelings.I still have the note I created for him on that day Joe sent that email. I was so close to crying but I was on my way home (I don't want the other passengers to look at me as if I'm crazy).
I still think that I should grieve about it. He's my first manager and I'll always look up to him.
Thanks for the very heartwarming post, Nix. This more than cancels out the bad press I got in some other people's blogs =;)
The previous techwriter team (e.g., Benjie, Jac, Guido, etc.) gave me a Harry Potter book (the blue one - Order of the Phoenix, I think) but looking back, I never really thanked them enough. So I guess I unconsciously tried to make up for it or compensate when you honored me with Watchmen as a parting gift.
It’s been a very melancholy and nostalgic few weeks of turning over for me. Unexpected thoughts and memories just keep popping up as I went through my files, etc. - but I couldn't let you or anyone else in the team see this. I guess I wanted to show people how to leave Trend with grace, dignity, and professionalism.
I've been seriously considering having a farewell party for the team - but then it’s never really "farewell" so much as "see you soon" with the world getting smaller everyday - so I decided against it.
I leave Trend knowing that KM Team can continue to succeed - because it admittedly did better than expected no thanks to me. I only took chances on people and kept looking for opportunities to achieve - the rest was actually up to you or for anyone else who has been part of the team =8)
Post a Comment