Planning an Exit Strategy
Saturday, July 1st, 2006There comes a time in your career where you must move on in order to move ahead. Perhaps you aren’t challenged anymore, maybe you are looking for a career change, or maybe you can’t stand the smell of last nights warmed-up leftovers wafting over the cube wall from the new guy sitting next to you. Whatever the case may be, it is best to exit on good terms and with a good strategy. Here are some tips for planning a successful exit strategy:
- Discuss your plans with your manager months ahead of your planned departure. Hopefully you have a good enough relationship with your manager to discuss this openly.
- Groom your successor. Find an existing candidate or hire someone who can be your replacement and train them accordingly.
- Wrap-up any unfinished projects. You never want to leave with a bevy of important project 50% complete. Train another person to take these projects.
- Disassociate yourself from your day-to-day tasks. If there are any tasks or processes that you own you should train another person to do these tasks or automate them (this is good advice even if you aren’t leaving).
- Don’t leave the team understaffed if possible.
- Keep your mouth shut. This isn’t a time to air all of your grievances.
- Don’t fall victim of “short timers” attitude. Keep being productive and positive until you are out the door.
- And please, don’t drink too much at your going-away party. Just avoid having one if at all possible.
Even if your current situation is a quagmire of epic proportions do not paint the town red when you leave. It is important to leave professionally and on good terms because you never know when you will come across an ex-coworker or maybe that sweet new gig with the plush window-office you were promised wasn’t so sweet after all.
