Leave Well

Leadership Tip on Leaving Well: Bring your organization into the process before you decide to leave.

Bringing your org/supervisor into your decision-making process shows your care for and honoring the people you have been working so closely with. It's an exercise of solidifying trust and typically builds a stronger, more lasting relationship that will mean something to you in the future. Drawing the org into the process also gives them a chance to really consider if they want to try and retain you with a matching or better offer.

Ultimately, if you leave and have taken this step, you will likely have the organization's support in your next career move. You also have an opportunity to build a strong professional reputation that will stick with you throughout your career. Your reputation matters.

I've been on both sides of the table (the person leaving and the person receiving the information that someone is going). I've utilized this technique and seen others use it with great outcomes.

A quick couple of notes: If you're working in a toxic organization with a history of retaliation, there are better ideas than this approach. Also, talk with a wise, unbiased mentor before making serious career moves.