By : Carrie Burgan
"Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."
You are quitting your job and moving to the Next Big Thing. But on your way out, remember to "Mind your Ps and Qs." Well, primarily you'll need to mind your Qs, as in "Thank Yous."
Being grateful for the people at work who made your work life hell is even more important than being grateful for the people who made your work life a pleasure. The art of gratitude requires that we move outside of our comfort zone, thanking those who we enjoyed, and do something that makes us squirm a little... thanking those we did not enjoy.
Before you assume I mean writing a flowery, gushy note of faux praise to the Thorn In Your Side (hereafter referred to as TIYS), don't get riled up. First, breathe. Second, realize that often times a primary motivator for this grand transition you're in the middle of either began with or was exacerbated by the TIYS. You actually have him or her (or them!) to thank for edging you toward this next chapter in your life!
We've talked about quitting with class, which includes keeping your cool during your remaining weeks on the job. This includes being mellow and fair (notice I didn't say "super nice") to TIYS. Like it or not, you may very well run into TIYS later in life. However, since we've already covered burning your bridges... get ready to say "Thank you!" to everyone.
How many times have you seen a co-worker disappear without so much as a word? You enjoyed their presence and you would have liked to keep in contact, but once they left, they simply disappeared. Don't follow in their footsteps. Always say "Thank you" and "Goodbye." Done right, your exit can be a great way to stay networked to those people who you may run across again in the future.
Quitter "Thank You" Faux Pas
There are three quitter faux pas that you will want to avoid when you exit.
1) Not thanking your boss. Your boss signed (or at least authorized) your paycheck every week. You're likely to run into him or her again in the future either directly or indirectly through networking and job references. Not thanking your boss for the opportunity can be seen as a major faux pas. Invest in a set of nice-looking "Thank You" notes or a quality paper stock to pen a note (not via e-mail) saying thank you for the opportunity. Just like you did in your resignation letter, keep it simple, professional and truthful. Deliver it in person if you are able to.
2) Not thanking the TIYSs in your office. They will notice when you give others notes or e-mails prior to your departure. Remember that people talk! As I mentioned before, you do not need to write a gushy, praise-bedecked letter to your resident TIYS. However, an e-mail or short note to say, "It has been a good [X] years working here at Company X. Before I leave, I wanted to wish you the best of luck to you in your future endeavors. Regards, The Quitter." This smacks of class and professionalism... and did you mention once that you enjoyed working with them? No. You told no lies there, but you addressed their presence and showed them respect.
3) Not thanking your direct reports. If you have any direct reports, it is a good idea to thank them for their dedication to the company. They may feel nervous that their supervisor is leaving and they may feel overwhelmed if they will be taking on some of your work. Thanking them for their assistance and performance is the way to go, so you can leave them and hopefully avoid any resentful glances in the meantime!
Three Quitter "Thank You" Dos
1) DO write notes. E-mail will often suffice for clients (check on your company's policy for contacting clients) and TIYSs, but a handwritten note goes far in today's fast-paced world. It says, "Wow, you thought of me enough for a couple of minutes to actually write with ink!" That statement sounds tacky when it's typed out, but think of how you feel when you get a birthday card in the mail versus an e-card in your inbox. The thank you note is extraordinarily effective at conveying gratitude, especially when someone was either very friendly or very critical in a mentoring or training role with you. If you feel grateful, don't be afraid to tell them so!
2) DO share your key personal contact information with potential networking colleagues. Notice this does not say, "Share your new business information..." If you know someone would be good to stay in contact with, offer up a non-business e-mail, phone, or LinkedIn/Facebook address to keep in touch where appropriate. Besides, if you think this person may want to know where you end up business-wise, this gives you a non-competitive platform to do so. If you aren't comfortable giving out your personal e-mail address, stick to public networking sites which have messaging functions within them.
3) DO keep in touch. "Keep in touch. Don't forget about us!" That is the polite thing to say when someone leaves. But if you want to tap into former friendships and potential networking connections, keeping in touch is a must. If you knew someone's birthday, use that as an opportunity to say, "Hello!" If you know your former company has a busy time at a certain point in the year, drop a line to a former co-worker to say, "I know it's probably busy over there. How are you holding up?" This keeps the ties tight and makes you look great, provided you're being sincere. Give it a try today with a former co-worker.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
"Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."
You are quitting your job and moving to the Next Big Thing. But on your way out, remember to "Mind your Ps and Qs." Well, primarily you'll need to mind your Qs, as in "Thank Yous."
Being grateful for the people at work who made your work life hell is even more important than being grateful for the people who made your work life a pleasure. The art of gratitude requires that we move outside of our comfort zone, thanking those who we enjoyed, and do something that makes us squirm a little... thanking those we did not enjoy.
Before you assume I mean writing a flowery, gushy note of faux praise to the Thorn In Your Side (hereafter referred to as TIYS), don't get riled up. First, breathe. Second, realize that often times a primary motivator for this grand transition you're in the middle of either began with or was exacerbated by the TIYS. You actually have him or her (or them!) to thank for edging you toward this next chapter in your life!
We've talked about quitting with class, which includes keeping your cool during your remaining weeks on the job. This includes being mellow and fair (notice I didn't say "super nice") to TIYS. Like it or not, you may very well run into TIYS later in life. However, since we've already covered burning your bridges... get ready to say "Thank you!" to everyone.
How many times have you seen a co-worker disappear without so much as a word? You enjoyed their presence and you would have liked to keep in contact, but once they left, they simply disappeared. Don't follow in their footsteps. Always say "Thank you" and "Goodbye." Done right, your exit can be a great way to stay networked to those people who you may run across again in the future.
Quitter "Thank You" Faux Pas
There are three quitter faux pas that you will want to avoid when you exit.
1) Not thanking your boss. Your boss signed (or at least authorized) your paycheck every week. You're likely to run into him or her again in the future either directly or indirectly through networking and job references. Not thanking your boss for the opportunity can be seen as a major faux pas. Invest in a set of nice-looking "Thank You" notes or a quality paper stock to pen a note (not via e-mail) saying thank you for the opportunity. Just like you did in your resignation letter, keep it simple, professional and truthful. Deliver it in person if you are able to.
2) Not thanking the TIYSs in your office. They will notice when you give others notes or e-mails prior to your departure. Remember that people talk! As I mentioned before, you do not need to write a gushy, praise-bedecked letter to your resident TIYS. However, an e-mail or short note to say, "It has been a good [X] years working here at Company X. Before I leave, I wanted to wish you the best of luck to you in your future endeavors. Regards, The Quitter." This smacks of class and professionalism... and did you mention once that you enjoyed working with them? No. You told no lies there, but you addressed their presence and showed them respect.
3) Not thanking your direct reports. If you have any direct reports, it is a good idea to thank them for their dedication to the company. They may feel nervous that their supervisor is leaving and they may feel overwhelmed if they will be taking on some of your work. Thanking them for their assistance and performance is the way to go, so you can leave them and hopefully avoid any resentful glances in the meantime!
Three Quitter "Thank You" Dos
1) DO write notes. E-mail will often suffice for clients (check on your company's policy for contacting clients) and TIYSs, but a handwritten note goes far in today's fast-paced world. It says, "Wow, you thought of me enough for a couple of minutes to actually write with ink!" That statement sounds tacky when it's typed out, but think of how you feel when you get a birthday card in the mail versus an e-card in your inbox. The thank you note is extraordinarily effective at conveying gratitude, especially when someone was either very friendly or very critical in a mentoring or training role with you. If you feel grateful, don't be afraid to tell them so!
2) DO share your key personal contact information with potential networking colleagues. Notice this does not say, "Share your new business information..." If you know someone would be good to stay in contact with, offer up a non-business e-mail, phone, or LinkedIn/Facebook address to keep in touch where appropriate. Besides, if you think this person may want to know where you end up business-wise, this gives you a non-competitive platform to do so. If you aren't comfortable giving out your personal e-mail address, stick to public networking sites which have messaging functions within them.
3) DO keep in touch. "Keep in touch. Don't forget about us!" That is the polite thing to say when someone leaves. But if you want to tap into former friendships and potential networking connections, keeping in touch is a must. If you knew someone's birthday, use that as an opportunity to say, "Hello!" If you know your former company has a busy time at a certain point in the year, drop a line to a former co-worker to say, "I know it's probably busy over there. How are you holding up?" This keeps the ties tight and makes you look great, provided you're being sincere. Give it a try today with a former co-worker.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
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