Dos and Don'ts When You Resign - Emerging Nurse Leader

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN

A longtime colleague of mine abruptly made the decision to resign when she was not selected for an executive position. She felt humiliated and betrayed because she had served as an interim CNO for more than one year. Her exit was not a graceful one and she lost respect in the eyes of her colleagues. How do you leave a difficult job situation without conveying anger?

The following tips provide important guidance about how to resign gracefully where you feel compelled to leave a job under difficult circumstances:

1. Do give notice but don’t stay too long because your position power will decline immediately.

Giving appropriate notice is important but not too much. Although your inclination may be to stay for a few months to help get things in order for a transition, this may not be the best plan in a situation where you feel very angry. Stay long enough to tie up loose ends but recognize that you are no longer viewed as part of the organization. You may not be included in decision making by other members of the executive team.

2. Don’t keep rehashing the situation in your own mind.

There are many reasons why working relationships with senior leaders do not work leading to an non-selection out often having little to do with job performance. There may factors totally outside your control.

3. Do remain positive with your leadership team.

You are leaving your position but your team will be the ones that continue in your absence. They need time to grieve your loss as leader and will look to you for guidance. Don’t play the role of victim and stay upbeat. Minimize any negative remarks that you make about the organization. Let your team know that these business relationships don’t always work out.

4. Do demonstrate class in all of your actions but seek an assurance that you will be given a positive recommendation.

It is important to set yourself up for a good recommendation especially when you have been with an employer for a long period of time. You want to be sure the trail you leave is a positive one.

5. Do be transparent about what has happened without whining or criticizing the organization.

Relationships sometimes don’t work out and everyone can understand this. You can simply say that you have had a great 10 years with the organization but that it is time to do something else. Even if it is the policy of your organization, it is usually best for leaders to completely avoid an exit interview especially in this scenario.

6. Do give yourself time to think about your next professional move.

Although it may be tempting to jump right back into a job search, it is important to seriously consider your next career step. In some ways, losing a job can be very liberating because it opens a wide range of possibilities in terms of what you would like to do next.

7. Do reconnect with your network.

If you have been with one employer for years, there is a strong chance that your current professional network outside your work environment might be weak. This is a time to reconnect with colleagues and to join LinkedIn if you are not in that social network. Most great jobs come from colleague referrals so let everyone know that you are looking.

I am a firm believer that when one door closes, another one opens. It may take time but it does happen. Keep in mind that ultimately, you are the architect of your transition so make sure that you can feel proud about your own behavior during this difficult time.