How to Resign Gracefully: 8 Steps

 

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Resign-Gracefully

It’s time for you to make a change, be it a new career path or simply a new challenge. The procedure for resigning is simple enough: give notice, preferably in advance. But if you don’t want to burn any bridges, thereby creating obstacles to future opportunities, you must be especially careful and considerate. Resigning is easy, but resigning gracefully is not. This article specifically covers several ways a person can make their resignation as smooth and as grudge-free as possible

Steps

1. Keep it to yourself. Once you’ve made the decision, don’t go blabbing it all over the company until you have notified your immediate supervisor. Give her or him time to absorb and process the information. If the company makes an attractive counter-offer, it will be awkward if you have already announced your plans to coworkers.
2. Plan to give notice. If you want to leave under the best possible terms, don’t leave your employer high and dry, scrambling to cover your position. Give at least two weeks notice (or the minimum notice specified in your employment contract if applicable) so that your boss can prepare to have others cover for you, or have time to groom a replacement.
3. Ask your boss for an appointment to discuss an important matter. Poking your head in and asking for a moment of his or her time will do – just be respectful of the fact that your supervisor has a job to do, and may not be able to drop everything at the precise moment you are prepared to spring this news on him or her. If there is too much going on, you will only add to your his or her hassles, so if it’s at all possible, wait for a time when your boss will have a few moments to focus on your news.
   

   A moment of your time?

4. Be prepared, direct, and polite. Rehearsing privately will help you be ready when your supervisor has you in to talk. Most managers are extremely busy and they will appreciate your direct approach, forgoing the temptation to “cushion the blow,” “find the right way to say this,” or otherwise beat around the bush. You might say something like:
   • “I’ve been considering my options here for some time, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to move on. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve found here, but I must give my two weeks’ notice.”
   • OR… “I need to let you know that I have been offered a new position at another company. I have really enjoyed working here, but I need to give you my two weeks’ notice as of today. Does it work for you if my last day is [whatever two weeks from then is]?”
5. Be prepared to discuss. Chances are you’ve been working with this boss for some time, and whatever your reasons are for leaving, she or he may have some questions. Or your boss may value you much more than you realized, and make a counteroffer. Being polite and dignified about your resignation could make this possible. You will need to consider in advance whether you would stay for a pay raise, increased benefits, a promotion, or other incentives. This would be a prime negotiating opportunity, so be prepared for it, and know your own bottom line. If staying is an option, what would make you open to it? Check the warnings below, though, because counter-offers can have some serious downsides.
6. Emphasize the positive. Be honest, but polite. If the boss asks you if he or she had anything to do with your decision, and was a factor, it’s best to rely on tact and diplomacy to make an honest answer palatable. In other words, you won’t help yourself by saying, “Yes, you’re a lousy supervisor and I (or anyone) would have been way better,” (even if it’s true). You can be truthful without being cruel: “It was a factor, but not the entire reason. I felt our working styles and approaches just weren’t a great fit, and that we never meshed as well as I wished we had. Still, the overall experience here has been positive; and with this opportunity, I feel excited to have new challenges.”
7. Have a copy of your letter of resignation in hand. Make your letter brief, non-confrontational and professional. An example: “Dear Mr. Spacely: It has been my honor to work for Spacely Sprockets, Inc. This letter is to notify you that I will be leaving to accept a new position with another company as of [a date which is AT LEAST two weeks from the date of your conversation and letter]. Please accept my thanks for our association, and best regards to you and the entire company for the future. Sincerely, George Jetson.”
8. Shake hands, smile, and thank your boss. Whether your departure is to relocate, to take a better job, or just to get away from this guy, show some class when you’re walking out the door. Shake hands, thank your soon-to-be-former supervisor (yay!) for “everything,” and leave. Go to your work station and stay there for at least 10 minutes. Now you can go blab it to everybody, but don’t rub it in your boss’s nose – be classy and simply confirm that you will be leaving.

 

Grow Your Stars — Don’t Buy Them

An interview with Boris Groysberg, Professor, Harvard Business School. Many star performers hired from outside don’t perform as expected at their new company. So, develop stars within your company; for example, through strong training and mentoring programs.

How Great Leaders Make Their Own Luck

Morten Hansen, management professor at UC Berkeley, describes the traits leaders need to help their organizations thrive in times of chaos and uncertainty.

Negotiating on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin

Tiziana Dearing, CEO of Boston Rising, outlines the three key ingredients for a productive negotiation: trust, open communication, and a willingness to compromise.

99 Ways to Become a Better Leader

by Chris Winfield
Source: http://www.blueglass.com/blog/become-a-better-leader-tips-ideas/

Do you consider yourself as someone who’s “in charge?” Do you manage and motivate other people to accomplish a task or get work done, other than yourself? If so, you’re probably in some sort of managerial role. But are you a leader? Believe it or not, there is a difference. Managers, well, manage people. They sort out what it is that has to be done, and then make sure the right people do it. Leaders, however, share a unique vision with people and supply the necessary values and skills to move people to really want to accomplish things; leaders touch people emotionally. If you consider yourself a leader, or are interested in becoming one, you must first understand that becoming a good leader is a process, one that never ends. Here’s a few tips (actually 99 of them) to guide you on your journey to becoming a better leader and manager.

Planning & Strategy

1. Understand what the core principles of being a leader are. It’s not about power, but rather about installing direction and influencing others to follow that direction.
2. Do you have the character traits to be a successful leader? If not, can you learn them?
3. There are different ways of managing people; Develop a leadership style.
4. As a leader or manager, you’re constantly soaking up information. Know how to properly collect that information.
5. Know how to use proper coordination between people and technology.
6. As you build your machine, know how to maintain it.
7. Constantly analyze progress.
8. Be prepared. Not every disaster will involve nature, but the process of preparation can be the same.
9. Use prevention methods, keeping filth out of not only your trash cans but out of your employees as well.
10. If a bomb does drop, be ready to recover from it and move on.

Team Building

1. Know how to hire good employees.
2. During the interview process, make sure to ask the right questions.
3. Compensate: know when and how much to pay your team.
4. Build trust; this has to work both ways (you trust your team and your team trusts you.)
5. Develop and communicate your vision so the team can help achieve goals.
6. Show commitment to those goals and ask the same from your staff.
7. Understand the core value of employee inclusion and it’s effects.
8. Interdependence – making sure your employees are sharing responsible principles.
9. Guide your team by being a strong influence, and let yourself be influenced by other leaders.
10. Control the climate or the feel of your organization.

Communication

1. Make sure you are aware of proper etiquette, especially amongst other business elite.
2. Ethics play a huge role in both the workplace as well as your company’s image in your industry.
3. Strong public speaking abilities will help you get the message across to larger groups.
4. Keep your employees up-to-date with things they need to know.
5. Don’t be shady with your team.
6. Be aware of not only your body language but everyone else’s as well.
7. Improve your listening skills.
8. Speak clearly and concisely.
9. Develop your ability to negotiate.
10. Make sure to keep your cool when dealing with difficult situations.

Build Trust & Confidence

1. First, be sure to really understand the definition of trust.
2. Try to believe in your team, and work extra hard to find the good in people.
3. Reduce your sense of competition, as well as the same within the company.
4. In order to accept new people, things, and ideas into your life, you’ll need to have an open mind.
5. Appear more creditable and real by allowing yourself to show a little vulnerability.
6. Be prepared to face your fears, because doing so will conserve your energy and empower you.
7. Know your strong points and when to use them.
8. Work hard to improve on your weak points and shortcomings.
9. Look at yourself in a different way.
10. Exude confidence and your charisma will draw people to you.

Time Management

1. Setting goals will help you focus on getting important things done first.
2. Have an action plan you can use to achieve those goals.
3. Stop procrastinating, and you’re attitude about work will change.
4. You can’t do it all yourself; know when and how to delegate work.
5. Get rid of any and all kinds of distractions while working.
6. Keep track of your life by writing things down.
7. Learn to say no; you’ll save lots of time focusing on the most important tasks.
8. Just like in college, you can’t party and study at the same time. Try to keep a schedule.
9. Know your bad habits (and how to break them) .

Being Responsible

1. Show character by being responsible for your actions.
2. Be responsible for your name, brand, and company.
3. Make sure you practice what you preach.
4. As a responsible leader, you must always be aware of what you’re saying.
5. Create responsible employees, but also be responsible for their actions.
6. Assume responsibility, even if something is not your fault.
7. Take care of your health. If you don’t care for yourself, why would anyone think you care at all?
8. Teach responsibility to others, including your children.
9. Constantly work on building a strong team.
10. Showcase social responsibility.

Never Stop Learning

1. Continue to build your leadership skills by reading management and leadership books.
2. Subscribe to some of the many business and management magazines on the newsstand today.
3. Keep a leadership blog to document your learning.
4. Don’t feel ashamed to take some online leadership courses; it’s always good to brush up on things.
5. Attend management seminars.
6. Find yourself a mentor; their wisdom will prove to be priceless.
7. Hone your skills through community involvement.
8. Don’t be afraid to learn from your employees and associates.
9. Embrace new technology, for it will only help you grow smarter.
10. Understand and learn from yourself.

Become a role model

1. Maintain a positive attitude – always.
2. A great leader portrays strength before power.
3. Lead by example.
4. Demonstrate acts of chivalry.
5. Treat customers and coworkers with respect.
6. Be sure to dress for success.
7. Always encourage others; they will probably encourage you back.
8. Be calm and show patience in your efforts.
9. Know how to properly manage life’s disappointments, both inside and outside of work.
10. Value all life.

Know When to Be Real

1. Show your employees (and customers!) that you really do care about them.
2. Know that it’s okay to share your emotions from time to time.
3. Allow people to see your shortcomings.
4. Try not to sugarcoat things because you’re afraid of conflict.
5. Do not lie to your employees about what’s going on.
6. Times will come when you have to put your foot down and correct employees when they are wrong.
7. Be sure to look and learn from your employee’s vantage point.
8. Promote job “ownership”, even if it entails seeing the ups and downs of business.
9. For everybody’s sake, make sure you have a life outside of work.
10. Have fun at work! It will show.

Give Back

1. Make it a point for you and your business to donate to charity.
2. Or, start your owncharity or benefit.
3. Help your employees learn and develop.
4. Good leadership means sharing your knowledge
5. Give raisesto your team; just be mindful of how you do it.
6. Recognize good performances and award it.
7. Give your employees discounts and perks.
8. Use your skills and knowledge to write a book.
9. Reach out to youth and become a teacher.

   You may be thinking to yourself, “how can I learn how to be all of these things?” You can’t, at least not all at once. Understand that becoming a better leader can only be done by growing, learning and practicing. It will take a lot of time and even more effort, and is not going to be learned overnight. Just make sure each and everyday, both at work and in your personal life, that you take the time to better yourself as a person and strive to make the world around you a better place as well. People will start to take notice, and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to becoming that great leader you always wanted to be.