How do you make a graceful exit?

Be sure you want to go – Do you actually want to leave your job or are you threatening to quit in order to gain something. Only begin the official resignation process if you’re completely sure you want to go, otherwise you risk making things complicated and messy for yourself. Give plenty of notice – No matter how politely or amicably you resign, leaving your company in the lurch is still not going to go down well. Two weeks’ notice might be the standard but think about timing your exit in a way that isn’t going to be detrimental to your colleagues. Keep it formal – If you work remotely or freelance, a phone call or email may be the only way you can resign but – where possible – a meeting followed by a formal resignation letter is the best way to be completely professional and clear about your intentions. Prepare to leave – Once a resignation has been issued, the actual leaving process can be quite quick, especially if you work in an industry where clients or high-value information can be valuable to other employers. Make yourself useful before you go – Leaving a mess behind for your replacement or mentally checking out during your notice period are both surefire ways to leave your boss and colleagues with a bitter taste in their mouths after your departure. Say goodbye properly – Even if you hate your boss or your team, a formal and polite face-to-face farewell will make you the bigger person in any situation and will avoid making your leaving day too awkward or stressful.

Give adequate notice. You know the ebb and flow of your organization. In some cases, two weeks may be enough. Maybe a couple extra weeks would be helpful. When you do give your notice, do it in writing. If you have any negative emotions, keep those out of your resignation. After you give your notice, don’t check out. It’s easy to want to take it easy for the last few weeks. However, do respect your coworkers and your replacement by performing your job at full capacity until you walk out the door the final time. Give a clear explanation why you’re leaving. Send notes of appreciation to anyone you interacted with regularly. Make sure to include a way to stay in touch, if you desire contact after you leave.