Closing one chapter, opening another… I do a monthly round-up of wins and learnings, so here are my April reflections.
This month has been about wrapping up work at Reliance and handing over ahead of my holiday. It’s been a month of riding the waves of change, saying goodbye to a brilliant team and completing my final commute to London.
Professional Wins That Matter
1. Proud of My Team
We held our final one-to-ones this month. I’m so proud to have played a part in my team’s career journey and it was brilliant to share highlights of the last two years together, celebrate achievements and offer encouragement for what’s next.
Leadership is all about people (and if it isn’t, you’re doing it wrong!). Seeing team members grow, develop confidence, and take on new challenges has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this role.
2. New Opportunities for My Team
Two team members have secured new roles. It’s such a pleasure watching them flourish.
3. Investing Time in Structure Pays Dividends
No handovers to write or processes to document. It’s all there in the structure I created and my conversations focused on capability and confidence building. Game-changer!
Instead of spending final weeks frantically documenting processes, I could focus on what really mattered – ensuring the team felt confident and capable to continue the work.
Your reflection: How are you setting up your current work so that transitions (planned or unexpected) are smoother?
Key Learnings from Transition
Letting Go Happens in Stages
Working a three-month notice feels surreal. Team dynamics shift quickly – from the moment I resigned even. I’ve incrementally released what I’ve built, which feels both challenging and liberating.
The challenging part is watching things continue without your input. The liberating part is seeing that they can – and often should.
Your reflection: What are you holding onto too tightly that could benefit from a lighter touch?
Prioritise Time with Work Friends
Fitting in final Thames-side walks with colleagues and catching up with London friends has been lovely. It reinforces how vital these connections are and how work relationships can often become some of our most meaningful friendships – we can take them for granted when we see people daily.
Reminder to you: make time now rather than later! Don’t wait for a goodbye to invest in the relationships that energise you.
Your reflection: Which work relationships deserve more of your time and attention right now?
Career Fulfillment Comes from Deliberate Design
This month my Board and career work came together beautifully. Not by chance.
It’s taken a long time to create and it’s been deliberately crafted, but reaching that sweet spot feels really rewarding.
Your reflection: What would deliberate career design look like for you right now?
The Power of Goodbyes Done Well
I’ve been humbled by everyone’s thoughtfulness with goodbye gifts and messages. Goodbyes offer a brilliant opportunity to show appreciation – both ways!
Looking Ahead: The Importance of Rest
On the horizon for May: REST. I’ve got a couple of final things to wrap up and then it’s feet up, book open, and yoga on. Not necessarily in that order obviously!
Transition periods are intense – emotionally and practically. Building in proper recovery time is essential preparation for what comes next.
Questions for Your Own Reflection
As you think about your own April (or current transition period):
- What professional wins are you most proud of?
- How are you handling letting go of things you’ve built?
- Which work relationships deserve more of your attention?
- What would deliberate career design look like for you?
- When did you last prioritise proper rest and recovery?
I’d love to read your own reflections and wins. What patterns are you noticing in your own professional development?
Picture collection features the incredible London skyline (photo credit to Kat Hutchings – you can almost see where we met for lunch!) and some of my goodbye gifts. Sometimes the end of one chapter creates the perfect space to appreciate how much you’ve grown and the connections you’ve built along the way.
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