01 Sep The Art of Leaving on Good Terms
These days it is difficult to imagine being in the same job for the remainder of one’s career. It is very likely at some point you will have to resign from a position. What’s the best way to go about it? Perhaps you shouldn’t follow the example of Lucinda Chambers, sacked Vogue fashion director, who refused to say she “left”, but instead said she was “fired”, then promptly laid into her previous employer…
“Glossy mags don’t empower women, but encourage them to buy ludicrously overpriced tat they don’t need.”
How should you behave when you change employers? Should you air dirty laundry after leaving your employer? Almost everyone who leaves under a cloud, or no cloud at all, keeps their mouths shut. Why? Because what’s the biggest red flag in progressing your career in law? You guessed it – negativity about your former employer. In the relatively small world of the New Zealand legal profession news travels fast. Remember, clients and colleagues may not be very good at distinguishing sour grapes from regular ones. In my experience you should always set out to leave your job the ‘right way’ – ensuring that your professional relationships with former colleagues and employers are maintained.
Communicating your Decision:
Provided that you feel secure about your next steps, inform your boss and colleagues about your departure early, to avoid setting the stage for rumour. The rumour mill can be detrimental to your reputation and relationships.
Plan a meeting with your boss, to discuss your reasons (in a positive light), how best to allocate your time over the notice period and to decide what needs to be done before you leave. It’s best to submit a written resignation letter as an expression of your professionalism.
Dealing with Restrictive Covenants:
If you are in private practice, dealing with restrictive covenants can be a worry, particularly if they are ambiguous. Talking about them with your employer sensibly and sensitively is the way forward. Perhaps it might even be worth taking some legal advice before you do so, remembering that they are not “your” clients, but the practices. Remember, clients never like being told who they can and cannot instruct as their lawyer. But don’t worry too much, those clients with whom you have personal relationships with will be likely to want to know where you are moving to.
Your Reasons for Leaving:
Whatever the motivations for leaving, give the same focused reasons to everyone. Explaining that you’ve received an offer with great chances for advancement is far better than saying you are fed up with your current situation because it’s heading nowhere. Completing your closing responsibilities with a positive attitude goes a long way to cementing future professional relationships, even if the news of your departure was a surprise.
And a final tip – don’t bad-mouth your former employer or colleagues at your new firm. While it might feel good to tell anyone who will listen just how much you hated your former employer, it’s not good for your career advancement. Showing that you’re able to address a negative situation while remaining positive will help make the best impression and enable you to move forward in your career.