So this is it. After years and months of slugging away in your company, after phases and phases of frustration and internal politics, after many attempts at improving your role and your relationships with your boss, you have got yourself that great new job and it’s time to announce it. Deep down you feel so excited at the idea of dropping all the bad stuff that you are currently experiencing, and getting on with the new, shiny exciting stuff. But then you feel that ball of anxiety in your stomach about having to break the news and getting through the notice period. So how do you handle your resignation?
If you have been in your company for quite a while and are a conscientious individual, you will probably find yourself pondering how to resign in the best possible way. And that means the way that make you feel good and don’t leave things end on a bad note anywhere. At least at your end, that is entirely possible.
If you feel some underlying fear about your resignation, ask yourself why. What is coming up for you? Are you afraid of judgement? Of making the wrong move? Of letting people down? This is an indication of the inner beliefs you have to deal with within yourself. Whatever it is, let it go and be confident when you handle that letter.
Let’s start with the worse thing you can do so we can move on to the good stuff. OK this might sound super basic to some people, but I have been there and done that so here it is: do not use your resignation as a powerful retaliation strategy, with a generous dash of criticism and anger lashed out at your management. Even if you are dying to do it. It would only feel good for a few hours and then evaporate into thin air. Yes, it’s hard but trust me this will only bring one person down: yourself. Because you leave as the angry, bitter person saying ‘it’s all your fault’ in an unilateral exchange, therefore it does not count in business. And it won’t change a thing anyway. So keep your resignation letter light and simple, be polite and say thanks somewhere.
Now especially if you have got some responsibilities, or know that the news of your departure will not be welcomed, you need to prepare. Don’t leave things to interpretation or to chance, as the dynamics of your resignation can leave a lasting imprint on your personal brand in your industry or more broadly. So it’s worth preparing, like any project. First of all, think about what you are prepared to do for your notice period and what you need to negotiate. When you resign, your bosses will only care about how it impacts them so anticipate what this will mean. What will their concerns be? How will your departure make them look? What do they need? I am not saying kiss their feet and be overly generous, but do what’s going to make the situation feel as good as possible for them whilst sitting in your integrity. That’s the secret – nobody likes to feel like they are losing (a staff member).
Why does this matter? Because you can tell a person’s worth in how they behave when they part ways. So look your best until the end, and give the others the chance to leave a good impression on you too. Because your reputation and brand matter in today’s interconnected world, I know you know. And you don’t want to hold onto grudge or resentment in your future work, because it’s counter-productive. All it does is hold you back. So keep your head up high, think in your heart of your next step (and stay super excited) but stay focused on being the best version of you until the end. No matter what is thrown at you or how others make you feel. Every reaction you will get is only a reflection of the person they are, with their fears and beliefs.
So offer to train someone up, write up a manual of what you do, clean up your desk nicely and say thanks to all the people you have learnt from. Remember you are walking away with a lot of new learning and skills compared to the person who walked in months or years ago. All is well really. And you get onto your next venture feeling lighter and like you did your absolute best job.
