The Summer Closeout

 I hope by now your summer has been fulfilling and productive as you have found a way to adjust to these unique circumstances. I thought it would be useful to discuss a topic often missed in business that makes all the difference. That topic is bringing closure to things. Just as a wave traverses the ocean coastline beautifully and then comes to an abrupt ending (surfers call it a “Closeout”), so it is often the case in business.
 

Planning for Closure     

The summer interns we discussed in our inaugural newsletter completed their work with our clients two weeks ago. They each had an extraordinary summer experience that we will be sharing about in more detail in future newsletters.  

Oftentimes we emphasize the beginning of something - like onboarding a new hire, the launch of a new product, or starting a new initiative - and what we often do not invest time and energy into is how we plan to complete things. That phenomenon - not paying attention to how closure is achieved - is a tremendous disservice to employees, clients, and companies alike. How often do we hear of business relationships ending with very little forethought and preparation? It’s almost as if when relationships start, we operate as if they are eternal or permanent. That is not the case. No wave can be ridden forever.

That is why for our summer internship program at Agile Rainmakers, we prepared for the end of the summer weeks in advance. This meant in the second week of July we examined what was left to be done for each client, how much time it would take, and what the final deliverables would be.  We also got clear on what was not going to get done. This was discussed and aligned with the interns, and quickly communicated to the clients to manage expectations and ensure an experience of satisfaction and joy for all involved. The truth is, it really didn’t take much effort. It took an hour to think three weeks ahead and about an hour to communicate the plan. It is basic work, but if not done intentionally, the following happens: 

     “... the transition was extremely rough, fraught with a lot of wheel-reinventing and confusion. The company contacted me frequently after the internship’s end with questions, which made it hard to feel closure with the work I had done.” 

The quote above is from a prior experience of one of our interns elsewhere last year. You can hear, as you read it, the added stress and lack of freedom and abundance in the quote. What you can’t hear, but have to imagine, is the intern was taught last year that this is how business is done. Business is done roughly, confusingly, and without any concern for others having the experience of closure. When this intern leads others in 5-10 years, what do you think those others will experience? Probably more of the same.

Now, have you ever gotten on a surfboard, ridden a wave, and thought it would never end? Of course not. There is always a sense that things will end.  If you have an intern working for you this summer, I invite you now to start working on how your relationship with the intern will end.  Find a way to plan and enjoy their closeout.
 

The Surprising Upside 

Since we were able to organize and prepare for our own Summer Closeout (again, the technical term for a wave crashing abruptly), there actually is more opportunity available now for all involved. The interns want to keep doing projects with Agile Rainmakers throughout their academic year, the clients are very happy and open to doing more work with Agile Rainmakers, and Agile Rainmakers itself is well positioned to expand the summer internship program - aptly called the Summer Riptide - for next year. How can this be? 

For us, keeping our feet on the surfboard is knowing that when we put our feet on, we are also planning how to take our feet off. If you only focus on getting your feet on the surfboard and don’t plan for the end, the upside is lost as shown in the very unfortunate and all too common first quote above. The upside for Agile Rainmakers, its clients, and the interns is a direct function of planning for the completion of what we set out to do in the beginning of the summer. As a result, our interns said the following:

     “I am grateful for the internship experience I have received and am confident that anyone has the ability to achieve such a realization with their time at Agile (Rainmakers), if they are open to the possibility of achieving more than what they plainly consider to be their definition of “success.” - ME

     “As my internship at Agile Rainmakers draws to a close, I feel a sense of closure about my work—my internship ends not with a cliffhanger, but with a proper conclusion.” - BL

     “While it didn’t turn out to be at all what I expected, in the end it exceeded my expectations in every single component of the internship. I genuinely feel as though I have grown as an individual through my experience and will always value the time that I spent with Agile Rainmakers.” - LJ

How do you end things?  Do you do so as well as you start things?  Mastering the ending is as important as mastering the beginning.  That is what we are continually working on at Agile Rainmakers.  I invite you to take it on for yourself and your company, not just for summer interns, but also anywhere else closure is lacking. 

We are full steam ahead on quadrupling the Summer Riptide program in 2021 and look forward to involving as many like-minded clients and interns as possible. If you would be interested in learning more, please email me.

Thank you for reading this newsletter. Enjoy the rest of your summer.  You deserve it!

Here's to you and your awesome future.

Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!

Robert J. Khoury

CEO Agile Rainmakers