Anyone with a job understands the importance of a graceful and diplomatic resignation. Even if you aren’t on the best of terms with your employer or immediate superior, you should still consider the option of resigning in a pleasing fashion. You never know when you might need your old job, a favor or a reference from him. Here are some suggestions to help you to resign gracefully:
Similar posts that you may also like: 1. Easy Jobs That Pay Well, 2. Let’s Resign With Grace, 3. Deal With Bullying In The Workplace and 4. Deal With Difficult People.
1. Don’t share your decision with your colleagues before you speak to your immedidate superior
Since you are resigning from your position, your immediate superior should be the first person to know about it. It might so happen that you get a lucrative counter offer from the management and change your decision. In such a situation, you will actually have to tell everyone that you have changed your mind and unnecessarily turn the gossip mills.
2. Don’t resign without giving prior notice
If you are keen on maintaining a healthy relationship with your boss after leaving the company, it’s best to serve the mandatory notice period. If you resign without giving prior notice, things might get difficult for your employer and that will definitely have an impact on your relationship with him/her.
3. Ask for an appointment
Don’t just walk up to him/her and hand in your resignation. The protocol dictates that an appointment should be sought if an employee is planning to put down his/her papers. It’s also a mark of respect and shows a professional attitude.
4. Don’t beat around the bush
Get straight to the point when you speak to your employer about your resignation. Don’t try to tell him a long story about your reason for resignation. Keep it logical and concise.
5. Don’t feel guilty about your decision
It’s very natural to feel guilty especially if you were on very good terms with your employer. However, don’t let your guilt show because that will only make your employer feel suspicious about your reason for resigning from the job thereby eliminating some of the friendliness.
6. Answer any kind of questions your boss might ask
Be comfortable in answering any questions your boss might have for you. He might be genuinely interested in knowing about your future plans to satisfy his curiosity so answer everything in a composed manner without showing any signs of impatience.
7. Don’t blame your employer or anyone else for your decision
Some people don’t show it on the surface but they actually blame their employers or colleagues for their resignation. These people might have given you a hard time but they didn’t ask you to quit. That is your decision so don’t encourage resentment of any kind to grow inside you because it will reflect in your words and actions.
8. Talk about the benefits this company has given you
When you speak to your employer about the resignation, mention everything that you have learnt from here. Gratitude reflects the clarity of one’s conscience.
9. Offer to look for/train your replacement
You can also offer to train your replacement personally. Your employer will understand how much you actually enjoyed working in the organization and it will also help you to strengthen your bond with your employer.
10. Don’t let your work get affected by your decision
Don’t let your decision affect your work. Don’t start submitting sloppy reports or acting irresponsible just because you are resigning/have resigned. Keep your work up to the mark.
11. Fulfill all your responsibilities before you leave
Before you leave, make sure you finish all your work, schedule the important meetings (if that’s a part of your job), make all the reports and inform your immediate superior about anything he should know with regard to any pending tasks. Proving your level of commitment and responsibility will help you to make a great impression even as you leave.
12. Retain a positive professional attitude
When you speak to your immediate superior, say positive things and before you leave, make sure that you let him know that you would like to work with him again. This is nothing but polite professional courtesy and even if you dislike your immediate supervisor, saying this will only act in your favor.
13. Don’t brag about your new job
If you are resigning after getting another job, don’t brag about it or tell your superiors how great your new job and your new company are. They might take that offensively so refrain from making such statements altogether.
14. Praise the company to your colleagues before you leave
A grateful employee spreads goodwill for his company even when he leaves it. Before you leave, thank all your colleagues for their contribution in your growth. Say positive things about the company to them in order to motivate them to give it their best shot.
15. Say goodbye to everyone before you leave
Just because you resigned doesn’t mean you pack everything and simply leave on your last day. Your immediate superior and your colleagues deserve the final goodbye. It’s important to make a graceful and acknowledged exit if you want to leave on diplomatic terms.
