Epilogue: Knowing When to Let Go

The ultimate act of leadership is knowing when to let go. In my experience, many leaders, even quite successful ones, stay on far too long in positions of authority. They don't step down until they realize that they have begun to fail. But the damage to the organization is already done, because by the time a leader recognizes that he or she is failing, chances are it has already been the case for many years. Better to leave at a point of time that may seem to be too early. No individual is indispensable. Sometimes, leaving is the most effective act of leadership there is.

In 2001, I retired from Intel and let go of the reins of leadership at Intel Israel. I left because I had begun to feel like I was repeating myself. ...

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