If you’re really honest, you’ve got to admit – you will eventually leave your current job. One way or another – on your own or with help of a supervisor. (Let’s hope it’s the former.)
Whether it’s this year or next year – or five years from now – it’s only a matter of time.
The real question is – HOW will you leave?
Leaving is never easy
There are all kinds of reasons to leave an organization (and there are many reasons to stay). Regardless of the circumstances – leaving is never easy. And, at times, leaving with dignity and honor is even more difficult.
It’s important to determine your desired outcome early. What does success look like for you? Whatever your outcome, it should always involve a smooth transition.
I discovered several years ago that true success is when your successor is more successful than you. I’d love to say that I have mastered successful transitions. While some of my successors have been and continue to be successful, the truth is I’ve occasionally fumbled the hand-off. Because it’s not easy to leave.
It’s HUGE
Your story is bigger than your education. It’s bigger that your accumulated experience. It’s bigger than your position and your team; bigger than your organization. And even bigger than your vision for your work. It’s bigger than your lifetime. Your story is all about your legacy!
So what kind of story are you writing? What are you leaving for those who come behind you? How can you influence their success?
You can – here’s how
1. Build a collaborative team. If you lead a team, lead them to support their new leader – to think creatively and work passionately. Love them, stay interested in their personal and professional growth. Make sure they know you are interested in their success!
If you are serving as a part of a team, ensure that your team members understand your role and how to support your successor when she arrives. A little intentional planning will greatly benefit your successor (and help you make a graceful exit).
2. Finish well. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the transition from you to your successor – this may be the most challenging. We should never criticize the current or future leadership.
Decide right now – I’m going to take the moral high ground. It’s unwise to speak ill of your supervisor, your team, or the company. It only makes you look small and petty. When we ignore this advice, we learn how quickly those negative comments can spread.
If you’ve been let go, Jamy Bechler offers practical advice for leaving with honor in his post – The I Got Fired Club.
3. Honor your commitments. You are expected to provide an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Although your employer may request that you pass current projects and initiatives on to others, always do what is best for the organization – all the way through to your last day. It’s never helpful to slack off in your work or let projects fall through the cracks. Determine to turn your position over to your successor in tip-top shape. Make him look like a genius!
Remember – life is short. The world is small – and your market is even smaller. There’s no good reason to needlessly create problems or enemies on your way out.
It’s true – true success is when your successor is more successful than you.
Question: What have you learned from leaving? Share in the comments.
This is such a great point – it’s easy to become so focused on what’s happening next (or in the event you are being ‘helped’ to leave, bitter and even vengeful!) that this gets lost. But it absolutely speaks volumes to your character, and that can find you – no matter how far you run! Thanks for writing such a great piece!
One of the key points about leaving is to realize that while it may feel like you are irreplaceable, you really aren’t. There are other people out there who are as talented and capable as you in their own way. They can step in and make the position a success even after you leave. What you need to leave behind is an organization in better shape than when you started (at least your part of it) with effective structures and processes that allow the next person to pick up and run with it.
I am currently in this position – over the next 18 months or so, I will finish up a Master’s and will leave my organization. They know I am leaving and I have their full support (which is a rare blessing). I am already seeking to train and transition the position that has grown up around me over the past 14+ years so that the department will be able to smoothly move forward when I do leave. I hope that my legacy will be an example of excellence that will remain with them, no matter who takes over what I started.
This is so true Stephanie. I appreciate your thoughtful
response – your organization is blessed to have you!
This is so true Stephanie. I appreciate your thoughtful response – your organization is blessed to have you!
For only being 3 points, there’s a lifetime of continuous improvement in that little post. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Thanks Jeremy!