Rules Of Management

RULE 60 - Know when to let go

“You’ve got to let it go, let it go
You’ve got reason to be angry, but try not to let it grow;
When you brood on hate and bitterness till that is all you feel
You will never have the strength to stop the wheel.”

‘Let It Go’, Lyrics © 1999 by Catherine Faber


Sometimes it’s really hard to let it go, to know when to stop. But some projects just aren’t going to work. Some team members are never going to fit in. Some bosses are never going to be possible to work with. Some situations must simply cease. The good manager knows instinctively when to back off, to bailout, to retreat, t walk away whistling, pride intact and dignity in place. This rule is for you but also for all the people who get caught, fool around, play up, try to defend the indefensible. Come on guys, know when to quit, know when the dog is dead.

“Know when to quit, know when the dog is dead.”

A good manager knows when to hold their hands up, ‘Yep, I messed up. It was my fault. I surrender.” Invariably you’ll be forgiven because such an honest, direct approach throws ‘em off the trail and they don’t know how to handle you.

If you don’t know when to let go you’ll build up anger, resentment, stress, jealousy, pain. Learn to shrug and walk. You don’t have to forgive or forget or anything, except drop it and walk away.

There is a myth in business that to get even better than getting mad. But getting even is getting mad, it just takes a bit longer. Let it go. Concentrate on the next big exciting thing you can do.

posted by Right Ranger @ 8:43 PM