I want to open by saying that working for you for the past 10 years has had a lasting impact on my life, and on my occupational education. My time at your company had highs, and it had lows. More importantly, I consider it to have been a decade-long learning experience. I have learned lessons from all of you as a team, and from each of you as individuals, and as a new project manager with an eye toward upward mobility, I draw from these lessons on a daily basis:
From all of you, I have learned what happens when you put policies ahead of people, and why I should never do so.
From all of you, I have learned how NOT to handle promotions and advancement.
From all of you, I have learned how to make the workplace an inhospitable place.
From all of you, I have learned the consequences of a high power distance in the American workplace. (eg: “Me manager, you worker; Me big, you little)
From all of you, I have learned how not to communicate with my employees, so they remain in the dark as long as possible about all things that may affect them, large and small.
From all of you, I have learned how not to administer and interpret an employee satisfaction survey.
From most of you, I have learned how to show my employees that I really don’t care about them.
From one of you, I have learned how to play the political game par excellence…and why I should not.
From one of you, I have learned what happens when you start to believe your own horseshit.
From one of you, I have learned how to single-handedly squash morale and destroy employee engagement.
From one of you, I have learned the dangerous combination of Inexperience, Incompetence, and Ignorance.
From one of you, I have learned what happens to the non-favored when one plays favorites.
From one of you, I have learned that perkiness and blue eyes do not make up for an utter lack of skill.
From one of you, I have learned what it’s like when one leaves every last shred of personality out in the car every morning.
From one of you, I have learned why one should not be a lying douchebag.
From one of you, I have learned the difference between a good person and a good manager.
While my recently-earned MBA gave me a sound education in things like finance, strategy and leadership…it is only textbook-learning. I am truly thankful to have had these years of real-life experience to fully round out my education and make it immeasurably more applicable.
