what is a memorable colleague?

This month, I have to say goodbye to two of my colleagues. They decided to do it on their own terms and if anything, I’m happy that they’re both in pursuit of brighter experiences. Despite that, it’s still an undeniably unpleasant feeling. My heart sank when I found out and man, you should have seen the team’s faces. Devastation.

Looking back, I’ve gotten to know them for almost 3 years. While we tested each other’s patience at times, there was an understanding that we were trying to help each other in the process. Here’s the funny thing: I don’t even work with them on a daily basis, which made me wonder why I was feeling the sense of loss and unease. “Weird,” I thought. I had worked with others more closely and when they left – I didn’t feel much.

I couldn’t figure out why.

So, I pondered on it over the weekend. Eventually, it dawned on me that it wasn’t just a matter of working proximity. It was the social impact they had created, on top of the reliable work they did. It was a double whammy, and it was clear to see the effects of it that night. A farewell gathering was held, karaoke was planned and with each Taylor Swift song sung, every music video was a reminder of the tangible passage of time. Knowing this made every song hit deeper and under rosy heart-shaped beams slicing through the dark, we sang our lungs out to “We Are Young” by Fun.

By the end of the night, we had formed a farewell circle. Had we been transported back in time, it would have looked like a medieval ritual. While conversations were happening in the background, I decided to drown the noise out to remember the moment. Every interaction was unique because everyone had their own way of saying goodbye. Between side hugs, warm embraces and whispered wisdom, it seemed our departees were receiving blessings before their hero’s journey.

”My head hurts,” she sniffled.
Yeah, that tends to happen when you’re wringing your eyeballs from any trace of moisture. Just remember that the sadness is temporary, personal growth is lasting. There’s so much to look forward to, you’re gonna do great things.

I’m going to miss the banter and Fridays are going to be quieter from now on, but I’ll be cheering on them wholeheartedly. I’m sure everyone has their reasons and I’m sure we could agree on the obvious. Personally, here are 3 reasons what makes them more memorable (to me):

1. They challenge the status quo

Don’t get this twisted, the rules are important. Knowing what your client wants is important, especially in the beginning. By following their sense of identity and who they want to become, you’ll eventually find gaps or better solutions.

This is when you bend the rules.

One of the mistakes that many creatives fall into is by being too agreeable, with any given direction, whether it’s from the team or clients.

In most instances, it’s worth taking a step back to assess the situation before hopping on any bandwagon in fear of conflict.

2. They disagree constructively

If you’re not on the bandwagon, people will notice. Sometimes, not in a good way, because when you make a stand for your creative judgements, you are also subscribing yourself to possible conflict.

I believe this is how it should be: evolving creativity through the collision of strong ideas. However, conflict without reason is just ego at play, but conflict led by cause can spark magic. This is closely related to one of my favourite Steve Jobs’ quotes – “the best ideas have to win, otherwise good people don't stay.”

3. They share their presence

Working in a hybrid work field, it isn’t uncommon for people to see each other once every few weeks. At times, I do find it a shame that we aren’t more connected because it’s through the small talk where we establish better working relations through trust and empathy.

It’s one of the reasons why I choose to come in as often as I can despite the comforts of home. I believe the every day interactions strengthen bonds which help us keep one another in check and is so important for a thriving company culture.