So, well done. You have finally handed in your resignation letter.
Congratulations! You probably feel some sort of relief, now that you have accomplished the one thing that has been pending for awhile. You see, unfinished business does burn a hole in our heart.
The Covid-19 pandemic showed us that life can happen beyond the confines of our inbox. Indeed, you are ready for more. You future awaits.
Perhaps you thought to yourself:
“Surely, there could be more to life that what I am are currently doing.” or “Surely, the world awaits! What am I still doing here?” or “Oh my goodness! You mean working from home is a reality?”
So What Next?
Become aware of how you handle all your correspondence and emails, from this moment until your last day.
Your goal will be to leave on the most productive note possible. Most times, you will need technical and emotional support to get through your days.
Outsource this to the experienced Coaches at WDS Africa, or walk with a close friend or your Advocate. Their assignment? To work closely with you to chart a clear path for this critical transition period and place you in mental peak state for your next season.
Some nuggets to bear in mind
1. Maintain perspective
Tempers, irritations, impatience may rise to the surface as you speak with colleagues and peers. Check your emotions and remind yourself of the single task, at the moment, that you ought to focus on in order to achieve some progress.
2. Where does your joy come from?
Keep your joy. Acknowledge and release any anger, resentment, disappointment and betrayal that may keep rearing its head. Release all this by expressing gratitude for your time there. Have as your daily agenda, a task specifically geared to self-care and self-nurturing.
3. Take leadership in all your discussions
Are you waiting for acceptance of your resignation letter? Oh dear, stop waiting! It’s unnecessary. It is not even a legal requirement that your resignation is accepted.
Refer to your contract and give notice as per your legal agreement. Everything else is feelings. And, truth be told, there is never a right time to say goodbye. Someone will always feel you should have stayed longer.
4. Reach out, be the first to tell your colleagues
Don’t leave your resignation news for the rumour mongering mill. Your peers need to hear from you, personally. So get on the phone, send an email or schedule a meeting and thank them for the ride you’ve taken together. You have reached your station and it’s time to get off the train. Your paths may cross again so strive to be cordial.
5. Manage relationships with your direct reports
Are they feeling sad? Do they feel abandoned? Remind anyone feeling lost that there is life beyond your last month. In any case, you will not be deleting their number soon, right?
It is not uncommon to find that once your last day comes and goes, your phone stops ringing with calls from former workmates. And that is growth. It’s perfectly alright.
Some relationships will stick. Others, not. And that, too, is okay.
6. Document, document, document and escalate
This is self-explanatory. Your meeting does not exist if you have not emailed the Meeting Notes from the same, to all that were present.
What Action Points were agreed on? Or did you agree to disagree on some points? Put it in black and white, as every email goes under the microscope, as soon as you make your exit intentions clear.
7. Never write to just one person, make sure your email has 3 or 4 in total
You, your boss, HR and someone else. The someone else could be the person who will be stepping into your role, in an acting position. It could be your boss’s boss. It could even be your Advocate. Try as much as possible to have three or four people on every email, and follow through with telephone discussions confirming the points you have noted.
8. Have Specific Daily Actions with regard to your Exit
Compile a Complete Exit Checklist that will guide your daily and weekly actions. As you achieve a task, strike it off your list. As you learn yet one more thing that needs doing, add it onto the list. And as you work steadily through this guiding list, be accountable to someone specific.
Begin a new conversation today
9. You are your best record keeper
Are you on the phone with a colleague? Take notes. Attending a meeting with your boss? Carry a plus one along (for example, a colleague or your assistant) and take notes.
This avoids issues of “he said-she said” later on. If you are meeting via Zoom, ask that you record the meeting so you miss nothing. Become your best record keeper and send those bullet points around, as they will form clear audit trail for your exit process.
10. Follow through and conclude
This is the hardest part. As much as possible, recognize you are winding down on activities. Politely decline to take on future facing activities, if these cannot be completed to some acceptable standard, within the term of your notice period. The organisation will not close shop simply because you’re moving on.
For instance, if you gave one month’s notice and your boss wants you to write a strategy paper having conducted the requisite research, politely decline. That can be attended to by the team and incoming leader upon your exit. Fact is, not every outstanding task on your job description will be completed within your final month at work.
Be upfront. State it. After all, it is your legal right to move on from your role having given adequate notice as per the contract. Your contract will guide you, so have a copy close at hand.
Remind yourself that the organisation is a going concern. The team should be able to go on, even as you go forth.
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We look forward to working with you in the coming year. Make time to do more. With the time you already have, enhanced productivity and clarity is within your reach. Welcome.
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