Change happens. It's inevitable. Accept it and life will probably be simpler.
Entropy (a physics concept) plays a role in change. How? Entropy is the natural tendency for things to unwind, wind down, age. It's a recognition that, all things being equal, things will skew slightly towards a lower energy level, towards settling.
A friend is going through some changes at work now.
When entropy happens in business, it trends towards more responsibility, lesser benefits, more work, less money. What's odd is my friend's company will, at some point in the future, actually wonder why things turned out the way they did. It's because another physics concept - that of equal and opposite reactions - is as inescapable as entropy.
There are four categories of response to change:
1. Intended Effects (positive).
2. Intended Consequences (negative).
3. Unintended Effects (positive).
4. Unintended Consequences (negative).
We change for the intended stuff, and get the unintended stuff for free. It's a package deal and is as escapable as any other law of physics.
It's possible to work hard and build a great team. Not perfect, but great. I know because I've done it several times. And once that team is built, my job as leader is to simply keep things out of their way. The chief thing I need to keep out of their way is their leader (that would be me).
I consider it the highest compliment and the height of achievement as a leader when the team no longer needs me. I can participate if I want, but I'm no longer required.
Now that's leadership.
(Notice I didn't use the words "manager" or "management". Drucker said "Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right thing." There's a difference.)
:{> Andy