Note from an Employee

Dear Mr. CEO

How are you sir? Great I hope.

As you already saw in your mail inbox, my name is Widya Novita.

I joined this organization in 2007, thus worked for 6 consecutive years under the finance directorate. My job was MIS staff, a job that suited my educational background and professional experience, but not my passion.

In 2013, I joined the HR Division, still in this organization. And I tell you, it was like finding a neverland I had always imagined, in professional context. The combination of passion and the right people to work with has been a tremendous fuel, generating energy for my work. In a relatively short time I learned all there was to learn. I absorbed the vision. The dream, of an ideal workplace. Implementing theories I didn’t know exist, breaking my old habbit of thinking, and exploring the new exciting world I was in.

This is my last day in this organization. The choice I finally made with deep struggle. I had a dream for this organization. It hurts losing it, but things were different now. I lost those ‘right people to work with’. And now I feel like an uninvited guest in a stranger’s house.

Sir, I’m not gonna spend the whole page telling you about my feelings. I only want to share a piece of my point of view with you. I may not know you personally. I have never worked directly with you. But from what I heard, you are a people person. You care about leadership. And I want to believe that. Soon enough, I’m gonna leave the organization that has taught me so much, and by organization I’m refering to the people. Some of the people are still here. They are dedicated, sincere, passionate and engaged professionals. People that deserve fair acknowledgement from the company and hopefully will continue give their best contribution regardless of the less conducive working environment.

As you already discovered, we have leadership crisis. I believe it’s a problem in almost all organizations. But somehow, I once had this belief, that HR might be able to do something about it. The problem gets complicated when the HR leader doesn’t understand and live its vision and values. Leadership is people issue. HR handles people issues. But what’s gonna happen if HR itself lacks leadership and humanity? It’s really an agony to see good and competent professionals trapped under an incompetent leader.

Speaking of values, leadership etc, it’s not something that can be absorbed only by head. It must be absorbed, especially by heart. We can’t ask people to be a good leader if we don’t give an example. One’s mouth can say a thousand beautiful things, but what matters are only her conduct.

I don’t know if I can leave a valuable legacy for this organization.  I’ve tried hard but I’m not sure the new condition can understand. So this is the least I can do before leaving, that is to share this point of view with you, hoping that you might be able to do something about it.

Yours sincerely,
Widya Novita