FountainBlue

Below are original articles which may be of interest to executives. In addition, you may be interested in notes from our Connections events, which ran from January 2006 through March 2007 or our Leadership Edge Notes, which ran from January through August 2007.

Generally submitting a resignation letter is a standard for any professional. The letter should include:

• a general thank you for the opportunity to serve in the roles that you served
• a specific thank you to the person you served under (no matter how you feel about the person when crafting the letter, find something to thank him or her for)
• the time period served
• Regrets for external circumstances that may have contributed to your leaving
• understated optimism at the opportunities ahead for you (even if you don't see one in sight . . . yet)
• An interest in continuing the relationship following your departure, but only if you're sincere. If you'd rather not continue the relationship, a second thank you and close is fine.
• Do not: get spiteful, say anything negative about a past event, say anything about how unfair it is and how ill-treated you were. There are other times and ways to say those things. They do not belong in a resignation letter.

Every firm differs, so when in doubt, choose the path of professionalism. Go the extra mile to inquire about the needs for those you leave behind. Leave the new person better prepared and positioned to succeed by sharing methods, processes, relationship tips, etc., These small acts will be much appreciated, and leave a good final impression on others and help build bridges with new people who may be helpful to you personally or professionally.

This is always difficult, but there are some tips:

• Have a track record of clear and transparent communications. This will make breaking any news to them much easier.
• Do what you can to ensure the team is in good hands.
• Think and act strategically. Create a plan for how you will communicate to each of the groups of people you work with - your peers, your staff, your partners, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate your message (why are you leaving, what's happening to the company, the customers, other managers, their peers etc.,) to each group, being prepared to address their questions, their reactions and feelings.
• Proactively manage the communications. People are in various levels of connections to you, of knowledge/information about your job situation. As you communicate to each group, ask people to respect the fact that you would like to tell people directly so that you can best address their questions and concerns.
• Maintain communication ties. Welcome people to remain in touch, don't make people feel abandoned.
• Be positive, optimistic while being realistic.

 The same principles apply:

• Clear and transparent communications.
• Do what you can to ensure the team is in good hands.
• Think and act strategically.
• Communicate your message.
• Proactively manage the communications.
• Maintain communication ties.
• Be positive, optimistic while being realistic.

An executive should have loyalty to his employer during employment, and even afterwards. The catch is that there will be more than one employer! Although it would be better not to mention employment opportunities at your new firm while still employed with your current employer, it is generally accepted to respond to specific inquiries initiated by others, particularly after a 30 day time period, assuming that the non-compete clauses do not apply.

Remember who you are leaving. Will the counteroffer address all those concerns? Does it have the same long-term and short-term potential of your current opportunity? Also take the opportunity to recognize why you are getting the counteroffer. What skillsets do you have that they want? What are the implications of your leaving for your company, your team, your division? If you do decide to stay, you would be in a more solid negotiating position.

Provide constructive, proactive and specific feedback while remaining tactful and professional. 

Leaving on a positive note helps you maintain the relationships you built, build new relationships, and help people reframe any negative experiences they might have had with you. 

In this difficult scenario, it is perfectly appropriate to craft an e-mail to one person and trust that person to communicate your farewells and good wishes, any critical work-related items, as well as your new contact information.

 The main difference in this situation is that you would be working with a competitor, so the main extra filter you would have in doing your job is 'Am I making an ethical decision for both my current and past employer?'

Reviews, recommendations, relationships.