There will be a time when you will have the opportunity to move to a new company or to a new team. How will your team be in the hands of a different leader? If the answer is not “amazing,” than you still have some work to do.
You should make it your goal to leave your team without having to worry about them. They should all know the department’s vision and they should all be empowered and have the tools to pursue that vision. If you have an opportunity to transfer or take a promotiom, I highly encourage you to ask yourself, “what will happen to my current team?”
I have personally declined a promotion opportunity because I knew that the team that I was leading still had a lot of work to do. This team had constant conflict and was unable to resolve issues without me getting directly involved. I could not leave them like this. I spent the next year working hard to make sure they have the tools that they need to be successful and I do not regret that decision for one second. After a year, I felt that my team had the tools for success, and another opportunity came up, which I emphatically accepted.
It will still be difficult walking away from your team, even if you have given them all of the tools they need for success, but at least if you know they can have continued siccess, you will not regret your decision.
If you can gleefully walk away from your team, whether they need you or not, I encourage you to rethink your position as a servant leader.
If they do not yet have the tools for success in their hands, you are not done yet.
Servant Leadership 