Ruminations on Circuses

There are times when I ruminate on my challenges, or past challenges, in an effort to better understand them, deal with them, or make sense of what happened. I think it's a part of "red teaming" or self-authorship to think about and make sense of our past challenges so that these problems don't crop up again. 

Ergo, I was thinking more about my previous job. The organization itself is doing fine. In fact, I think they are flourishing in many ways. They are growing into new markets. They have a solid foundation of workers who can meet the day-to-day needs of the customers. The organization has a terrific mandate and a wonderful base of customers, followers, and friends in the community. 

The challenge? 

Since I left, they are struggling in terms of thought leadership. I'm not saying that's all on me, but since I left, they have not hired a new VP of Learning. They've lost a Director of Learning and a Learning Manager. That's a lot of folks who focus on "Learning." Why is this a big deal? Well, because it's an organization that makes 90% of its revenue from learning products. Me, that director, that manager, we were the primary developers of the learning products. 

Do they still have a focus on learning? Sure. Do they still have people who can develop and design learning? Yep. I still talk to them often, too. 

But do they have any thought leaders in this space? I don't think so. There's no one to forecast, apply research-backed principles, or advance the vision beyond what we set up. I think that's a problem for an organization that has a primary focus on "learning."

So what did I ruminate on? 

I thought about that leadership team. They were a mess. The organization? Well, all organizations are messy in some way, but leadership teams? They should not be a mess. This organization's leadership team was filled with backbiting, politics, secrets, and innuendo. I was not a fan then, and I hear it's still occurring. 

I look at where I was and I'm so happy I left. And truth, I'm sorry I stayed as long as I did.