Leaving Gracefully
There are thousands of tips about the art of landing your dream job, including stepping up your networking, tailoring your resume to your audience, choosing your power suit, and perfecting your interviewing skills, but how do you go about leaving a job, particularly one you love?
The practice of leaving a job hasn't evolved much in the last few decades. Two weeks written notice is still standard practice, often with more notice for higher-level positions. But no matter the level of responsibility, it's still tricky business depending on your organization's culture. Some human resources departments escort you out the door the same day you provide notice, collecting your keys, badge and passwords as you box up your personal items. Others ask departing leaders to stay for months to facilitate a smooth transition. But if you're someone who cares about your team and the success of your organization, how do you leave gracefully?
I recently left a job after investing more than a decade doing high-impact work that both challenged and fulfilled me, working alongside people I respected and for whom I cared deeply. Once I decided that it was time to launch my career in a new, entrepreneurial direction, what weighed on me most heavily was how to ensure that my team and clients would continue to thrive when I was no longer there to advise, mentor, and encourage them. I knew that it wouldn't be easy. To leave well would take remarkable effort and great care. There were dozens of considerations. Ultimately, I employed a people-first approach, rather than relying only on process and procedure. And it worked.
If you're looking to leave a job gracefully, consider these four steps:
1. Make a Plan
Everyone should make a plan for leaving that includes your timeline, what you want to accomplish before you give notice, and what your transition is likely to entail. Consider how much time you need to finish up projects that you want to wrap up vs. what you are likely to hand off to a successor. Reflect on how you expect your organizational culture will respond to you giving notice. Build in some flexibility to be adaptable if needed. For executives and managers who want to put some extra effort into setting their teams up for success, use the time well before your announcement to do team building, planning and coaching so you know they'll be well equipped for whatever comes next. Know that after you make your announcement, then it's time to execute your transition, which may be a couple of weeks in some organizations and a couple of months in others. Stay for more than two months and you may invoke the adage about house guests and fish.
2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Communicating is perhaps the most important piece of leaving gracefully. The words you choose for your resignation letter, the conversations you have with higher-ups, team members and stakeholders, the preparation and release of an announcement, and the tone you set in your communications will all impact how your departure is viewed.
The more positive and optimistic you are about your transition and the future of the organization, the more people around you will feel the same way.
Also, remember that very few people like surprises, so assess whether you are in a position to give key people a heads up and then prioritize the order in which people need to know. Be thoughtful about when you let your team members know and how. Personal conversations coupled with a group conversation can make people feel valued and help them maintain cohesion through the transition. Give them a chance to ask questions so they have a better understanding of what's coming and how to prepare. Depending on your number of superiors, your conversations can range from simple and straightforward to managing up through complicated reporting structures. It's critical to ask for confidentiality since you don't want word getting out before your ready. A good communication plan should account for your organization's protocols and relative levels of trust to ensure information isn't leaked before your announcement is public.
3. Express Appreciation, Then Do It Again, and Again
No one ever succeeds in the workplace without help, so a big part of your transition should be expressing your gratitude and appreciation to your employees, your colleagues and your bosses. Throughout your transition period, every conversation is an opportunity to say thank you and reflect on collective accomplishments. In your last week, take the time to write personal notes and consider giving gifts that leave a lasting impression. If you are fortunate enough to receive recognition from your co-workers and supervisors, accept their sentiments with sincere appreciation.
4. And Finally, Let Go
Perhaps the hardest step of leaving a job you love is letting go. You need to trust that your efforts to provide for a smooth and successful transition paid off and the responsibility for moving forward is now in others' capable hands.
When you succeed in leaving gracefully, you can exit on a high note while preserving your reputation and relationships. You can leave with a sense that all will be well as you embark on your next opportunity.