‘It was like a bereavement’: life after leaving a big job

They used to be MPs, senior partners and surgeons, expert at dealing with pressure. So how do those who once had top jobs adjust to life in the slow lane?Leaving a top position can be tough. Your diary clears, your retinue of staff vaporises. Suddenly, no one is listening any more. Ego, hubris, whatever you call it, as we rise to positions of power, we too often come to “believe our own hype”. The inevitable fall can be bruising.This is especially true if you are an MP. Until June th