Being retired for the past few months has allowed me to breathe and reflect. Here is a list of things I wish I told staff before stepping away:
I had sleepless nights worrying about you, and not just the professional stuff. I worried about your physical health, mental health, your personal kids, your parents, all of it.
I wanted the best for you, even the staff that gave me hell. I always appreciated the pushback and the questions, it made me a better leader.
It was never personal, even if it felt that way.
Even when I said it was fine, or I said I was fine, I wasn’t. I tried not to show it, because who wants a boss who freaks out.
I had no clue what the hell I was doing half of the time- you all probably knew this already. Thank you for your grace, and I hope I extended it back to you as well.
Even if it seemed like it didn’t bother me, it did. I may have come across cold or distant at times. I may not have reacted when you where crying in my office, but I felt it.
I cared about test scores more than I let on. Not that I think they were an accurate measure, but I knew they didn’t reflect the work you put in.
