How to Leave Well
Changing roles is a fact of professional life. Whether you are just starting out, or your career is more mature – it's almost guaranteed that at some stage you will have to grapple with changing employer.
There are many ways to get this wrong. Below I lay out the steps in the process as a structure for how to successfully manage what is undoubtedly a challenging but essential experience in our careers.
1.?????Decision
So you have reached your decision that it is time to depart for pastures new. That’s a positive step.
What can go wrong? Plenty.
Have you really decided you’re ready to go? Have you taken affirmative steps – e.g. accepted a new role? Is your reasoning concise and consistent with your previous chats with your manager?
Is there really nothing that can be done that would alter your views?
You need to consider all of these questions before going any further.
2.?????Delivery
Without doubt, the toughest step.
Speak to your line manager one to one. If this can be part of a scheduled meeting then perfect, if not then book time and ensure there is a meeting room available for the conversation. There is no script I can offer but my advice is to get to the point as quickly as possible with the empathy and humility that you would hope for if you were in their position.
Then stop talking, let this be mentally processed and wait for some fairly reasonable questions.
It is at this point where those questions at 1. come to play. How developed and clear your reasoning is and how confidently you are at delivering this, will determine how much credibility you get. That will in turn determine whether this is a.) the start of your exit process, or b.) the first of a lengthy series of catch-ups while your employer does whatever they can to find a way to retain you.
Naturally, if you cite things which can be changed – clients, work, team, pay as opposed to “Bigger Picture” non-fixable stuff, there’s a risk that your manager doesn’t hear your message as a resignation but a request for more pay, change of team, clients or something else they may be able to address.
Your manager will need written notice so you should have this prepared: keep that short, professional, courteous and acknowledge your contractual obligations e.g. Notice Period. You do not necessary need this physically on hand when you speak, but ensure you have it ready in its final state, dated with required formality.
3.?????Follow up
Despite the formality of your resignation letter and your chat with your manager, its likely that a further check-in will happen in the days following. This could be again with your manager or separately with someone more senior or someone from HR.
This is really an exercise of corroborating your message and a final inquiry to confirm whether there’s anything at all that the business can do to retain you.
Therefore, consistency in your messaging is key. Again, try to understand the other person’s motivations – if you are fluffy, uncertain or reference something easily fixable then its only natural that this person will offer to address that as opposed to the alternative of losing you – the best talent they’ve seen in years!
4.?????Processing
At this stage you are through the worst of explaining your position – if you manage steps 1-3 well then this is much calmer waters. This is a matter of agreeing your final contractual day of employment, your remaining annual leave balance and your final day of work. HR may want to schedule an “exit interview” – a standard set of questions all leavers should get, this can be as deep as you like, and if you have any constructive points to offer then give delivery of those some thought before you sit down.
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IT, Payroll, HR and all the other relevant support teams should be aware of your leaving date now so that all practical/logistical processes are in hand.
5.?????Some personal news
At every stage throughout should you should be thinking of your future self, unpack any issues and act with humility and empathy. So my advice, as a courtesy, is to be discreet about your news until those at the top are clear on the decision. You could go one step further and take the lead from your manager. It is draining enough sitting with your manager/HR etc. without repeating that multiple times with your colleagues.
In any normal workplace, these things tend to come out naturally, and you can conduct a fun experiment by telling absolutely no-one and observe who broaches it with you first.
In all seriousness, you will likely have a small circle of close colleagues who you can explain your reasoning to early on – along with the formal meetings you’ve had, these are the only people that really need your personal take on things.
6.?????Working your notice (a golden legacy)
You will know what your notice period is by now. Could be three months, could be one. Be grateful, in some of the larger practices, a Partner’s notice is 12 months. That’s by the by. The key is to use this time to ensure you’re exit is as smooth as possible. So from a practical/work perspective – get on top of the handovers and any deliverables you agreed to complete, to ensure there is no panic in those final days.
This can also be a challenging time to navigate. On a psychological level you have to look past your current role and prepare for what’s ahead, however, here you are day-to-day still on the payroll, still doing the same job you’ve been doing for perhaps years.
This is necessary but temporary. Remember empathy and humility throughout.
More hyperbole from me: your colleagues and bosses have loved working with you, your clients are beside themselves with worry about how they will cope – but cope they must!
Whatever the level of adoration you enjoyed, there will be an impact from your moving on – so don’t make that any more difficult than it needs to be. Consider that in your actions and words. Be helpful, be supportive, be optimistic, its good Karma and this will be the last thing some people remember about you, so don’t let yourself down.
7.?????Parting is such sweet sorrow
So you have done the leaving do, delivered the leaving speech (maybe), and said your goodbyes. Some lovely messages in that leaving card there. I had no idea you felt that way, Derek! That chapter in your working life is complete.
So now its time to pack that period of your professional life tidily away. If you have nailed the first six steps you will have a good, healthy and positive perspective on your time.
All jobs and all working environments present challenges. It’s often exactly these challenges that steel us for the bigger hurdles that present themselves down the line. Your new colleagues and bosses want to understand that you’ve taken good, healthy, positive steps in joining their firm and they are keen to hear the great ideas, knowledge and experiences that you can bring across from your old place.
So. It goes without saying that if you have only bad things to say, you’re not reflecting the best first impression. It’s a small word.?