How to Resign with your Future in Mind

If you’ve recently discovered someone has been dishonest with you or there has been miscommunication in the workplace, you most likely are experiencing a variety of emotions. Perhaps you’re feeling sad, hurt, or even angry. But no matter what emotions are coming up for you, being able to address them honestly while also being respectful is the key to maintaining a healthy environment for both the employer and employee and moving forward with the future in mind.

Building a thriving organizational culture with open communication is one of our Culture Infusion Principles; practicing effective communication. But that can be especially challenging when this principle isn’t prioritized or reciprocated. With resignations on the rise, as employers we must be prepared for turnover by having back-ups in place for our people and processes clearly documented to allow for smooth transitions. For those faced with turning in a resignation, leaving with care and respect will allow you to exit peacefully and set yourself up for future success. No matter whether you are the employer or the employee, handling a resignation with the future in mind allows you to move forward confidently and build upon your experience with this situation.?

Why is leaving on good terms so crucial to your career?

1.)??References?– You want to be able to give positive references for each of your jobs. Having great references improves your credibility and trustworthiness.?

2.)??Unsolicited References?– Many times people will look at your resume and know of someone that is associated with that company and call to ask for reference without the person knowing that checking is happening. What do you want them to hear about the way you handled the resignation??

3.)??Legacy of a Lasting Impression?– When your previous employer thinks of you, would you rather it be positive or negative? Conduct yourself during the resignation process in a way you would be proud of, especially if tensions are high.?

4.)??Build a Support Network?– It is always beneficial to have a network of people you can go to for advice, networking. This is especially helpful when those people have worked with you and know your strengths, personality, and communication style.?

5.)??Paths May Cross?– You never know when you could meet again in a job, organization, or even the grocery store.?Imagine what a future interaction with them might be like or what they might have to say about you if someone mentions your name.?

Tips for Giving Notice

1.???Be Honest?– Tell your employer why you are leaving. This allows them to learn from your feedback or could give you both the opportunity to problem solve and remain onboard. If you want to stay, you could be pleasantly surprised how they may accommodate your needs but you must first communicate openly and honestly.?

2.???Provide Plenty of Notice?– Provide ample time to ensure all of your tasks are clearly documented and the transition goes smoothly as someone else takes over your responsibilities. Even if you are unhappy with how things have been handled by your employer, this is a time for you to think with the future in mind. Not giving enough time puts your employer in a rough spot and affects the lasting impression of you and your values.?

3.???Leave Everything Organized and Accounted For?– There is nothing worse than leaving your work unorganized for your previous boss to find out that you were not doing your job well. Tidy up loose ends, document your processes and things you’ve learned, and provide as much information or training as possible on your position before you leave.??

We have encountered both positive and negative resignations; all of which were a learning experience. Here are a few examples that you can learn from and help you implement the positive if you ever need to resign from a position.?

Negative Resignations:

• Left tasks undone, unorganized and messy causing unnecessary work for other employees after they had left
• Asked for changes made to their role which were accommodated. The person said how thankful they were for the new opportunities that aligned with their needs but then resigned one week later. This example was especially difficult as much effort was given to appease this employee.
• Allowed us to renew their office space for another year when asked if it was still needed. This person could have said,” I?decided I do not need the office space anymore”?versus costing us a lot of unnecessary expenses.

Positive Resignations:

• Gave plenty of notice and reason for why they were leaving.?We were able to make changes for the person to stay with the firm. We just needed to know what had to change and made those accommodations.
• Explained that consulting was not a good fit for their personality as she did not like to get up to speed each time a new project was assigned. We helped her network to find a suitable job and still keep in touch to this day.

With each of those given scenarios, open and honest communication was the key component to leaving on good terms or problem solving and remaining with the company. If you don’t communicate what you need or how you’re feeling or that it’s time to leave, your employer can’t help meet your needs.?

If you have decided that resignation is the best choice and emotions are high, it may not seem like it now, but you should do everything you can to leave on good terms. It is truly a best practice that will allow you to build a strong network with people to support you, increase your personal development and communication skills, and set you up for future success.?

If you would like to learn mindful and effective communication techniques or introduce them to your team or organization, please send me a message or visit?https://www.actualizeconsulting.com/interactive-sessions.html ?for more information.