Departure
I recently moved on from a company I was with for eight years (my longest time at any one company). My experience at HMS was absolutely without equal. I was given better opportunities than I could have reasonably asked for. I grew both professionally and personally, and both of my children were born while I was with HMS. I was presented with what I believe to be an unique situation and did not make the decision to leave lightly. I know they will continue to do great things. Based on some of the feedback I received from friends I’ve decided to share the email I sent to them as I departed.
You’ll have to…
…do the enthusiastic white boarding; come up with the snide nick names, and make bad puns. I won’t be here to do it.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid that you might not know it all. Try.
You are all phenomenal at the technical aspect of what you do for HMS.
If I could give you advice that you’d follow, it would be this:
Work hard at developing relationships with your peers in the other business units. They’re in this as much as you are. Work to understand the music they have to face standing in front of customers. Appreciate that you’re shielded from this.
Learn about every role in the organization: find out what sales faces when presenting what you make; find out what the auditors are validating about the data your systems create.
If you do this, you will find that they will come understand you as you develop empathy for them. You will be the one has to do it, no one else can do it for you or instead of you. Do it even if no one else does it back. If you keep doing it eventually you’ll see people start to take your lead.
Chaperone your peers across the building. Walk with them. Be the one who says lets do it now, lets go see if there over there now.
When you see something you sincerely believe to be exceptional, say so, out loud. Tell their manager even if that manager is the CIO or CEO. You will gain more by doing this than I can possibly tell you. You will also be surprised at how people will try to live up to the virtues you point out in them.
You are all living through a shared challenge right now. Realize that what you are doing now is a story; it is a history, it is a rare shared experience. You have an opportunity to develop deep respect and friendships. Events like this do not come along often, you may not get the chance again for a long, long time. You are seeing those around you prove themselves. As busy as you are, make an effort to see what they are doing. From what I am seeing it is incredible.
It has been my distinct pleasure working along side each and every one of you. Thank you for helping me grow these past eight years.
Thank you for being who you are.
Kyle Burton