Over the next few weeks I’m transitioning from one workplace, where I’ve been for the last five years, to a new job. This move means I will have left, on good terms, ten jobs.
Not that it’s a major accomplishment that I’ve had that many “serious” jobs since high school, that’s increasingly common among my generation. Unfortunately, what’s also quite common among my peers is an astonishing lack of tact and class when leaving a position.
This post, and those to follow in this series explore how we leave, and what we leave behind.
- Unless you are actually a judge, or this car, which is a judge keep it to yourself
Part One
Grab not the gory-gavel of post-position pontification.
Employment advice abounds on the ‘net. From LinkedIn to Monster, from blogs on building your personal brand to career coaching services. In general, the focus of career-sites is on “reaching the next step.”
That’s great, but gracefully leaving an organization is nearly as important – and growing more important every day – as tactfully joining another.
Why?
If facebook, LinkedIn, twitter, bebo, orkut, google buzz, and this blog right here have anything to teach us at all it’s that we’re all connected. Our connections and relationships are public record and offer a reflection of our character for all to see.
Regardless of how tightly you control your privacy settings.
Which brings us to the permier point:
Zip it.
Seriously, unless you’ve got something positive to say keep your lips sealed.
Sure, a new opportunity is empowering. But regardless of how strong the temptation to pass judgment out loud might be, remember that you yourself will be judged and remembered based on your actions during your time of transition.
Stay positive, and stay quiet. Outside of actually having done a great job for your about-to-be-former employer, it’s your best chance at being remembered in a kind light.
- Imagine your rep is Japan, an unprofessional exit from employment helps build a community not unlike that pictured above…
Your colleagues are far more likely to reconnect with you throughout your working life than your manager, director, or boss.
Harm done to these relationships will bring no good.
Wrap up everything with as much positive energy as possible and you will build a very real network of valuable connections.
I’ve witnessed every kind of negative departure, from the office-wide up-yours-email, to rants at meetings, to hushed cc’d and bcc’d emails pointing out flaws, to drunken blabber at goodbye bashes. Without fail, these actions cast a shadow over any positive accomplishments made during one’s tenure.
Without fail.
If absolutely must say something to someone about their performance during your last few weeks, make it positive. Let someone know they were great to work with, or let someone’s boss know.
Be cool, be classy, and be quiet.
Your goal should be to create a community of micro-mentors, and your reputation as a cool and classy lass or lad can only help, especially when it comes time to poach the best and brightest from former employers for your amazing new venture.
Sure, you might have built a few friendships. That’s great, but greater than that is a wide network of professionals whose last experience working with you was positive.
In just seven days I’ll be back with another segment. If you have tips or advice drop it in the comments section or email me at mvboronowski at gmail.com. And really, I have nothing but great things to say about my current-for-the-next-two-weeks employer. If you ever want to hear about how fantastic the people at BCIT are just ask. Also, if you’re interested in leaving jobs, or jobs in general, check out this post by the fantastic Theo Lamb.
Fabulous post Mike. I think the same can be said for those staying in a job too. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything…
Thanks Kurt,
As long as you really have your organization’s best interests at heart, and are being classy about it, I think letting rip with the criticism once in a while is a great thing. It’s just so especially important during those transitional times to take a moment and decide if something really needs to be said.
Hey Michael, really great post. I couldn’t agree more – as I accumulated my own experiences in that field. One should only burn the bridges and go for a scorched earth-policy if the shit really hit the fan. And even then – better think twice.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas –
*German Pete
PS: Haaaaaaa! And I LOVED the Godzilla-pic – did you take it yourself?
-Pete²
Thanks Pete,
Nope – the photos are linked to the flickr page of the photographer. The godzilla set is pretty good stuff.
*Swiss Mike
C’etait fantastique!
I really like this, Mike, and will probably make it mandatory reading for my students (their last class with me is next Friday). The article is candid, honest and so, so, so correct!
Another thing to consider is BCIT’s reputation in all this. Mike, you’re pretty/very awesome, so think of the free marketing BCIT gets because of you?! Sure, no organization has everything to do with their employees’ greatness, but great leaders can definitely play a role in making their team greater. Ideally, as more and more good people leave BCIT for new adventures, your now-former-bosses will eventually get a reputation for creating a legion of Swiss Mikes. Or, alternatively, it was all you, which just makes you all the awesomer!
It also reminded me of, perhaps, the worst, non-Costanza example of how not to leave a job. A certain unpopular supervisor at a certain community college declined her staff’s invitation to host a goodbye party (she’d been there for many years) and then went on to host her own goodbye party with a select group of people – she didn’t invite most of her staff. The funniest thing about the goodbye party was that it was held at a fairly popular restaurant, and a member of her team just happened to be having dinner and drinks with friends at the same time. You can imagine what happened – especially after a few shots – and, needless to say, the former-supervisor was confronted and her reputation at the community college was solidified.
But, hey, at least she didn’t dunk her feet in the soft-serve ice cream like our friend George Costanza did…
Great post, Mike!
– Canadian John
Merci beaucoup John,
In all honesty, over the last few years at BCIT I’ve had the pleasure of working for one of the best leaders I’ve ever met in my life. I learned a tonne and was consistently challenged and rewarded by my work there, and always had fantastic support and guidance. I’m pretty short so I’m a shoulder-stander, if that makes any sense.
It’s a very interesting space, marketing in post-sec. Maybe I’ll write about that in a few Tuesdays from Tuesday once this series on moving on is complete.
That goodbye bash scenario is awful, and for the record, other than birthdays I do love a good work-party. Work birthdays just don’t seem right to me because eventually someones gets missed and then there’s a double-cake or double-doughnut celebration at a morning-meeting or something and it’s all awkward because we all have to admit to failing to recognize someone got older… ugh I have no idea what this whole Gregory Costaznic thing is you’re going on about, but that sounds bad too.