By Tony Charles
After 40 years in corporate life in both the public and private sector, management consultant and career coach Tony Charles resigned in 2003 to establish his own specialist career consultancy. Here he examines knowing when and how to exit a job gracefully.
Do you remember the cult TV series of the 1960s, "The Prisoner"?
Filmed in wonderful Portmeirion, Wales, the opening sequence of each episode featured a special agent, played by Patrick McGoohan, banging his fist down on his boss's desk and resigning -- only to be abducted to a mysterious place where agents are "retired" and from where, as the famous No. 6, there was no escape.
While there may be times in our careers when we might feel like undertaking a spectacular resignation like McGoohan, generally this is not the way to do it.
However, there is certainly a case for all employees to recognize when they have had enough of problems like uncertainty, constant change and work-related stress, and accept that it's time to move on, write the resignation letter and exit gracefully.
Many of us would still like a settled and progressive career in one organization. But various issues in this ever-changing modern world frustrate career stability, including changes in organizations and changes within ourselves.
When organizations change, or personal change takes place, it is important to identify and understand where we are in our careers in these new situations. Recognizing that we have a choice -- to stay or to move on -- is vital, rather than let events take us along with things we may not believe in.
So understand whether your future career aims fit the direction in which the organization is going. If your career is out of synch with the organization, then it may be time to recognize this and plan to move on. This is especially important where a merger is taking place and the operating methods and values of the new organization are completely different to your present employer. It's also important where there are shared functions such as human resources, IT and finance where redundancies may be likely.
So here are some tips for planning a dignified exit:
- Find out as much as possible about any planned changes before you decide whether to stay or leave. Informal conversations with people you know in any new organization acquiring your business may be more fruitful than formal presentations where the "party line" may be presented.
- Decide whether you are going to wait and see what happens, especially if there is a possibility for a generous severence payment, or whether you are going to take the initiative and move your career elsewhere in your own time frame.
- Give yourself plenty of time to consider all your options and plan your exit over a period of time, say six to 12 months. Current times for managers to land a new role using a qualified and experienced career coach usually shortens the transition time by 50 percent or more.
- Maintain relationships in your current employment, and develop a transition plan. Decide whether the culture of your organization enables you to be open about your career plans or whether you need to get a new role confirmed before you say anything.
- Consider the different feelings people will have when you resign. These may range from expressions of goodwill and congratulations to absolute envy that you are getting out. Your farewell should have the same positive vibes as when you took the job originally.
- Even though you may have become totally disillusioned with your role or your employer, do not focus on negative issues, and do not talk about the organization in a negative way. There must have been some good times, so remember these. Save any constructive suggestions for any "exit interview" that may be offered.
- Think about the people who have supported you in your role and thank them. Choose the people you will want to keep in touch with in the future and have as part of your future network of contacts.
Don't make a big issue of resignation like No. 6: Bow out gracefully.
Tony Charles runs a Cardiff-based human resources and career consulting practice and helps organizations and individuals manage change.
Source: Western Mail. Powered by Yellowbrix.
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