No matter how good your work has been, when a new team takes over, it's possible that you'll be tossed aside. That happens.
Many have witnessed or experienced this painful experience during the COVID19 months for all kinds of reasons. What does being tossed say about you and your commitments in general?
The experience of being tossed aside is painful especially when you've committed countless hours, heart, energy, and hard work to the endeavor, relationship, organization, or people that make up that commitment. It is painful to be tossed aside, and this pain makes you question all that you did throughout that affiliation and commitment.
You ask yourself all kinds of questions: What could I have done differently? Was there any way to avoid being tossed aside? What will I do next?
The truth is that moments of being tossed aside are complex--those moments may involve some of your own choices and efforts, but in general, there's a lot more at play. As I watch a friend essentially being "tossed" I know that this experience has a lot more to do with organizational change and personalities that have nothing to do with my friend's hard work, experience, and good skill, and I also know that sometimes that experience of being "tossed" is not such a bad thing.
When we're tossed, and if we handle it well, we have the opportunity to reflect on our past efforts, improve our skill and abilities, and find new opportunities.
Sometimes being tossed simply means you've outgrown the place that you once found a good fit--you've moved on in skill, insight, perspective, and potential. That place is too small for you know. Sometimes it means that there is a better and more important opportunity for you ahead.
We will all be tossed now and then--tossed by people we love and coare for, tossed by groups we once felt connected to, and tossed by jobs too. That happens. What's important is how you deal with this--the grace and intelligence you put into place as you move on.