resigning well

my chief's resignation had been accepted and will be announced today. looking at how she had managed the process, i thought she had done well and given me lotsa food for thought and things to learn. she had shown utmost eq in how she managed it and in doing so, strengthened her image and credibility in front of many. and it reinforced my belief that the resignation process is just as important and must be seen as an opportunity to build one's credibility in the industry.

firstly, there was a lot of sensitivity in managing the process and breaking the news. she knew her departure would create a lot of internal tensions and she staged it such that she informed key individuals within the department first. and she did this so as not to create surprises and more importantly, to prepare every one mentally before the news comes out. she started this whole process ever since she firmed up her thoughts about moving on.

secondly, she managed the board and inform key board members about her decision and stood firm on her thoughts. the early preparations and process of obtaining the blessings of the board members reflected the respect she had for the board members and it was very well appreciated by them. in the process, she gained the respects of all board members. many were surprised that they were not consulted by the new boss and tried to keep her but she declined the suggestions graciously, and without burning any bridges. as of yesterday, 2 board members have asked her if she would be keen to join their companies.

thirdly, she prepared the department well before the new boss break the news company-wide. she didn't want the department to hear it from third parties and wanted to make the announcement to us herself. she held a closed door meeting last evening. a few of my colleagues broke down and cried on the spot. it reflected the affections they have for her and the chemistry they have with her. her leadership and personal touch touched many.

lastly, she assured the department that the head chopping process for the department stops with her and that she had put in every possible effort to impress upon management (read - the new boss) that there should be no more heads to go. in doing so, she managed the morale of the department and stopped speculations from my colleagues as to who will be asked to leave next.

reflecting, i thought she managed the whole process very well. and despite her personal views and differences with the new boss, she has kept these views to herself and a very small but close group of individuals. instead, she has put across her decision and the whole process very neutral and objective and she's been very professional about it. 

with all these done, she shared with me one-on-one that she's very at peace with her decision and that she appreciates the fact that despite being asked to go, there are people up there who appreciates her and offered her opportunities. and most importantly, she knew she had forge a closely knit and effective team within the short 10 months with the company.

we will all miss her.