Oh, I totally get it. My respect/affection for my boss is because they were just someone who seemed to have me pegged from the get go and without my even noticing, just let me work where I was strongest. To be trusted in certain scenarios is something I value, but I guess I never realised how deeply it mattered and how much it matters to be seen without it needing to be verbalised.

I think it’s an approach a lot more places could/should adopt. Cannot tell you how much I loathe, loathe, loathe reviews. They can get in a bin. I think employees would do so much better if they’re told on the spot things that need to change, be addressed or fixed instead.

Such is life. I’m glad I was honest and let them know how I felt. I hope that it made them feel valued and maybe somewhat validated in the end. They’re onto bigger pastures, but I still miss them.