How to resign & leave an organisation the right way (yes, there is a right way!)

I’ve recently made the tough call to resign from a job with people I absolutely loved, after being approached for a new role. It was a tough call – I weighed up the pros and cons for a couple of days, I thought about what I was going to and why I was thinking of going. It was tough.

The conversations were fast and suddenly I was under pressure to make a decision. Then…the waves of guilt started. How was I going to navigate this without pissing anyone off.

Now this isn’t the first position I have resigned from and I’d like to think I haven’t burned any bridges so far in my professional career, and professional integrity is extremely important to me. I’ve also been a manager and had people resign so have seen it done well, and done extreme badly, so what’s my way of leaving with your reputation intact?

In no particular order below are my top tips for leaving the right way – without burning your bridges.

Leave in a way you would be proud of. Now this one should be a no brainer and this is the advice I give to people every time whether they are in my team, or otherwise. Leave in a way that you would be proud of. Do justice to yourself and the work you’ve put in for the organisation. This isn’t about them – it’s about you.

After you leave all that’s left is your reputation. Now really – you may be the type of person that doesn’t give a shit what people think about you, and that’s cool, but – you never know when you need a relationship again. Now you might have not meshed with your manager, or the company or whatever, but your reputation is something to be protected as this is what will go with you throughout your career. Think of it like a money box – you can add to it and watch it grow, or you can watch it reduce through instances that have damaged your reputation and then you have nothing. Your choice.

You joined for a reason and put your whole self into your role – respect that. I’m sure you remember your first day with this organisation, the first day shine, the excitement and anticipation of what could be. Now think back to when you were first offered this role. What attracted you to it? Why did you say yes? There was a reason you joined in the first place! Remember it! You have given your time (extra – I’m sure!) you have worked your ass off, you have achieved things (whether you think so or not) so give that work justice. Don’t make it for nothing.

Be honest – no one likes a bullshitter. Own your reasons for leaving. Whether it be you didn’t get the development you wanted, the role had changed, you didn’t like your manager, you didn’t see a future with your organisation, or you were simply offered an opportunity you couldn’t say no to – whatever it is – own it. Now unless your organisation is a backwards one, people want to know what they could do differently. Now this isn’t about getting a counteroffer from your current organisation – if this is your desired result, then you better check yourself, this isnt the chess move you want to make to get there.

You can be respectively honest when giving your reasons. And if you can’t – a simple “I want to thank you for the time you have invested in giving me the opportunity you have, I have appreciated the experience, and have decided to move on to the next thing that is in store for me.”

Lastly – do your best to tie up lose ends, you still have a job to do. Regardless of what notice period you have given, you are employed right up until that last minute you walk out the door. Try and do the best you can in wrapping up things you were a part of, transfer the IP you have, handover what you can. Continue to DO YOUR JOB. This is where I have seen it fall down time and time again. People give notice, then they feel like they don’t have to work as hard, or care as much. I have also seen people’s true personality come out and they start the trash taking. That is a fast train to a damaged reputation if ever I saw one. Don’t be that person.

Have I done my previous exists perfectly every time – no, absolutely not, but I have certainly done my best to leave in the right way.

At the end of the day…

Be thankful for the experience and focus on what you learned.

Would love to hear your thoughts as always!

J.