How To Resign With Grace

So that’s it, you’ve had enough! Another job beckons, or you just cannot stand your current workplace any longer.

But you need to tell the boss, HR, your colleagues, the press – whoever, but they need to know, so how to tell them.

Well, first things first, although it’s important to go out with style, this doesn’t necessarily mean kicking and screaming. If there has been an incident, a warning or anything else ‘fraught’ that has led you to this decision, the first thing you need to do is CALM DOWN.

That’s right, sleep on it; you genuinely might change your mind after a few deep breathes or a heart to heart with someone close. Now if you yelled I QUIT in the face of your manager as you stormed out of the office and cleared your desk before flouncing off, this could be a bit trickier. If you did do this, and have since changed your mind, the only grown up thing you can do is approach said manager, apologise and calmly ask that it is okay to keep your job. Their response may not be what you want to hear, but all you can do is ask…

So, you’ve made the decision, there has been no shouting and screaming, it’s simply time to move on. So how do you tell your boss and ensure that you resign in the correct way – gracefully?

Sure? Again, firstly make sure it is the right decision. Not only do people resign in heated moments, they also do it to make a point – to see if they are missed, or to prove how indispensable they are to the company. It usually backfires – on you!
Make a meeting not an email, or heaven forbid, an sms – no matter how nerve wracking, you need to be professional and do this in person. By all means, email or call to arrange the meeting, but do the actual resigning face to face.
Have the answers Only you can decide the reason you give the boss as to why you want to leave, but you can be sure that they will want to know. Honesty is always the best policy. There are few valid reasons as to why you wouldn’t simply tell the truth, whether they will want to hear it or not. Nobody is suggesting you launch into a tirade or a character assassination of your line manager for example, but if these are the reasons you want to leave, then let the manager know about flaws within the company professionally – offer them the knowledge so that they can rectify the situation. If it’s really impossible, for whatever reason, then play it safe with news of another ‘excellent opportunity closer to home’ or some such.
Can’t handle the truth? So the news doesn’t go down well? That is their problem not yours. If you have resigned politely and honestly without raising voices, using appropriate language and not being deliberately antagonistic – the boss’s reaction is down to them. If they don’t take it well, it is only reflective of them, not you, however unpleasant it feels.
Play fair. Unless there are real reasons not to, you must expect to work out your notice period. This is no doubt stipulated in your employment contract and can be anything from two weeks to three months depending on your seniority or industry. You will only serve to antagonize otherwise and won’t be leaving on a good note.
Be generous Lets say you are leaving on a good note – make sure you do all you can to make it an easy transition for your incumbent or for the person who will have to shoulder your responsibilities whilst they replace your role.
Work it through Just because you’ve resigned doesn’t mean you can stop working. During your notice period, staying fully engaged will generate a whole lot of goodwill