Is there a more liberating action than leaving a job you're no longer digging for a more fulfilling option elsewhere? Although, having secured this new opportunity, it would be easy to think your work is done, giving little or no attention to your departure from your current role or indeed preparation for the new one. This would be a mistake. What happens in the last weeks before your departure can do a lot to cement your reputation as a top performer and, of course, get you ready for the new role.

 

Here are 5 practical things you can do to leave your company the right way and get you ready to start something new.

 

1.  Build confidence in your Decision to leave

When it comes to taking a leap in your career, it becomes much easier when you're confident about your destination. Therefore, this first step is about reminding yourself why you're leaving your current role and that you deserve to be in a job you love and one that will love you back. No further need to put up with a job you hate or even, for that matter, one that's mediocre. Life's too short to compromise on your job choice. This mindset consolidates your decision and ensures you can make a confident departure.

 

Being confident in your decision also helps you deal with other people's opinions about your departure, which although well-meaning could be unsettling in the lead up to your leaving date.

 

2.  Tell your manager and make it official

 

Having decided to leave your organisation, you will need to inform your manager of your decision. Make sure you do this before telling anybody else; your boss finding out from somebody else about your departure will make the process harder.

 

Arrange a meeting with your manager and prepare what you will say. In the meeting, it's best to get straight to the point and inform them that you will be leaving the company. Keep your statement professional by using phrases such as 'with regret' and 'having given the matter lots of thought'. This will help you keep a positive relationship with your boss and take the edge of any disappointment.

 

You will also need to put your resignation in writing, and this can be handed to your manager in the meeting or sent afterwards by email. At this time, it's also good to agree on a departure date based on the notice period for your post. If the meeting goes well, you will have maintained a good relationship with your manager and at the same time have carried out the necessary practical requirements of leaving.

 

3.  Deal with the practical issues

 

Dealing with the practical issues means having the integrity to end your current role well, making sure nothing gets left hanging, unfinished or without a next steps plan to aid continuity. In some cases, you may even get to train your replacement or at the very least have a handover meeting with somebody that can ensure continuity.

 As well as it being the right thing to do, one of the benefits of ending your contract well is that it is more likely that you will receive a glowing reference from your employer.

 

4.  Strengthen your network

 

Before you leave your current organisation, it's a good idea to strengthen your connections within that organisation. There are a few reasons why this is a smart move. Firstly, it helps to build your reputation in that organisation beyond your departure and also, over time, in other organisations as well as many of those connections will move to work elsewhere. It's can also boost your career possibilities to be connected to potential decision-makers who rate you as an employee.

 

At the same time, make sure you don't burn any bridges by speaking badly about your current employer or boss. Even if you are feeling bitter towards your organisation, it's essential to remain professional.

 

5.  Plan your first steps in your new role

 

Having decided to take the leap, it’s a good idea to do some initial preparation for this new chapter in your career. The first 100 days in a new role sow the seeds for success and starting well will mean you will be more likely to enjoy the new role beyond these first few months.

 

Start to think about your vision for the role and what you want to achieve, and the more short-term goals such as meeting your new team and delivering a quick win. Some of these ideas will need to be refined when you actually start the role but thinking about them in advance helps you to plan ahead, increase your motivation for the role and of course make success more likely.

 

Finally, if you can, try to avoid ending one role on a Friday afternoon and starting your new role on a Monday morning. Seek to create a gap and some headspace to prepare for your new challenge and plan out your first 100 days.

 

So, there you have it, the 5 things you can do to take the leap and leave your job.

 

1.    Build confidence in your decision to leave

2.    Tell your manager and make it official

3.    Deal with the practical issues

4.    Strengthen your network

5.    Plan the first steps in your new role

 

Additional suggestions: Sometimes you may need additional support to end one role well and in making a great start in a new job. In which case, seek help from those around you or get professional support. 

 

If you need help from a professional coach, reach out to me and let's have a FREE 45-minute chat. I can support you to make the leap into a more enjoyable role.