LEAVE WELL.
We have likely all left positions on our career path. The experience of getting one job and sticking with it for decades is rare. And well, even in cases of one-job-careers, the person eventually leaves. So my thought today is to leave well.
What does it mean to leave well?
Leave the job better than you found it. Leave with more clients, better processes, more efficiency, higher reputation, and clearer goals than what you had when you arrived. Leave the job with systems and details of how-to accomplish the tasks at hand firmly defined and outlined. If you are leaving injured or hurt or angry or frustrated, the person that follows you is likely not the culprit. Don't punish them by leaving things amiss.
As much as it depends on you, leave with relationships intact. Don't burn bridges or speak harshly to co-workers or needlessly criticize or slander the bosses. This world has a way of being smaller than we think and relationships are important to our well-being as we journey through life. Not everyone is going to be a confidante or friend or buddy. Embrace co-workers who will remain friends and colleagues and appreciate the ability to separate others from your everyday and move forward.
Remember the good times. What did you enjoy about this role, the experience, the people, or the mission? What did you learn and what can you take away from the experience that has bettered you professionally and personally. Think on these things.
Keep the bad times in the rear view mirror. Don't dwell on the problems or overly concern yourself with the negativity. You've made your decision to leave so move on and don't look back.
If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. It isn't fruitful to badmouth the organization as you part ways. Criticism leaves you open to being viewed as embittered -- no matter whether you have valid concerns and complaints or not. If you want to offer some constructive feedback to the organization, do that, but limit your expressions to helpful, correctable critique.
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
