Sooner or later most of us make a decision to leave a company, so leaving with tact and dignity is important for all. Whether we leave due to conflict, better working conditions, better opportunities, or retirement, a little grace can help. I’ve been employed by several companies and contracted at many more, so here are a few tips on the exit.
Giving Notice
As a professional, always consider two weeks the absolute minimum and be prepared to stay longer if requested. When I gave notice for retirement, I proposed two-weeks but added “I’ve never retired before.” I was asked to stay longer for project meetings, co-leader ramp up, granting access to systems and other hand-off. I’m glad I stayed because I care about the people I worked with and truly want them to succeed. Also, be prepared to answer questions after you leave for co-workers who inherit your projects.
I once had a boss who said several times that if any of his direct reports gave him two-weeks notice he would ignore it and “march them out immediately” due to our level of IT access. I planned accordingly. When it came time to leave, I obliged him with notice I was quitting and as he requested would leave immediately. He said he didn’t really mean all that, so I worked another day to allow basic hand-off but could not stay longer due to other plans. I don’t regret leaving, but I do regret my timing on that exit.
I found that telling my teams I was leaving is usually the hardest part, because they were awesome people. They are often stuck in difficult positions with additional duties when someone leaves. I made sure to keep it positive and shared how to stay in touch. I let each person know how much I appreciated them. When I told co-workers, most were not surprised. I shared my plans and asked about their future plans just to keep it positive.
Communication
Keep all communication professional. Maintain the standard you set, as if were staying. Final emails to co-workers should be short and include your future contact information. Indeed has an great article I found helpful for keeping it concise while inviting people to stay in touch via LinkedIn.
Clearing out Stuff
I’ve usually worked at companies with traditional onsite offices and always had a few personal items at my desk. If you work from home, this part is easy. If you are planning an exit, be careful what signals you are sending as you thin out stuff prior to giving notice. Nothing tells people “I’m outta here” quite like a light saber in a box.
Relationships Matter
At the last few companies, I thanked each person on my team for the time we had and their unique talents. I had nothing to gain and the sentiment was sincere gratitude. At some places, I also gave my boss a thank-you card for the incredible opportunity they had given me to learn, grow and build a team. Though the workload and projects at some companies was out of control, it was usually not their fault. I valued the relationships and want to keep those.
Saying goodbye to friends and co-workers is an important part of this transition, for you and them, so allow time for it in the final weeks. The ‘I’ll call you later’, usually never comes. I’ve found taking time for a cup of coffee or lunch with a co-worker before leaving is a more sincere option. Let go of any hard feelings and resentments that crept into the workplace relationships. There is no sense giving someone free rent in your head. Wish them well and be able to mean it sincerely.
All of this is aimed at leaving with grace. I have not always done that, and I’ve regretted those. Staying positive, professional and keeping relationships is worth some effort for peace in the long term. Hope this helps.