So you’ve decided to resign. A better opportunity has come your way, you’re burnt-out, or you just can’t fathom staying at your current job any longer.
Let’s be honest, there are lots of reasons one chooses to move on – but the above are probably the most common.
We all know that we shouldn’t burn bridges, however there is a little thing that some employees tend to do that I like to call ‘checking out’.
‘Checking out’, also known as ‘tapping out’, is a phrase used in combat sports for yielding to the opponent, or giving up – hence resulting in immediate defeat.
This occurs when a person has psychologically removed themselves emotionally and mentally from their role and their organisation – resulting in disengagement in the workplace.
It can typically take place once a person has formally resigned, is working out their notice period, or when a person has committed to resigning, however hasn’t formally sealed the deal.
Have you ‘checked out’ before? Or have you had a colleague or subordinate ‘check out’?
Checking out can be one of the most detrimental things you can when you are planning on leaving an organisation.
The danger with ‘checking out’ is that, unlike the purposeful action of burning your bridges, the individual themselves may not realise that their disengaged behaviour is being perceived by those around them.
The individual thinks they are simply ‘transitioning’ but to their manager, and their fellow team members who take on their additional workload, they are destroying the reputation they have built up by all the work you did while you were still truly committed to your job.
The last few weeks/months of your employment can be the most powerful impression you can give of your work performance – and if you ‘check out’, it will cloud years of hard work and diligence.
So, before you hand your keys in, how do you stop yourself from checking out?
Here are six of my top tips –
1. Make a lasting impression
Treat your notice period like it’s the most important time of your whole employment. Despite how long you have been with the company, it is most likely the last few weeks that people will remember of their time working with you.
2. Exceed expectations
Perform at your highest level. It will leave a brilliant last impression and it will give you the confidence to start your next new role on a high.
3. Offer to train a replacement
This will mean the handover is smooth and ensure all of your hard work carries on.
4. Don’t become a big mouth
Now is not the time to tell people what you really think of them or pass on gossip you have heard. You never know when you will be working with that person next or how they will cross your path. The working world is still very small.
5. Don’t leave any loose ends.
Finish as many of your projects as you can before leaving. Leave with your head held high, and sometimes it could mean a nice little bonus which will help tide you over between the pay gay between the new or old job. Leaving projects unfinished affects your colleagues more than the employer or company.
6. Continue this after leaving
Even after you have left, continue with the confidentiality agreement and speak with respect about your former employer or colleagues. If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything.
Despite how ‘checking out’ might affect your colleagues or your reputation, the other key reason is you never know when you might need someone for a reference or worse your job back if the new role doesn’t pan out as you expected.
So you’ve decided to resign. A better opportunity has come your way, you’re burnt-out, or you just can’t fathom staying at your current job any longer.
Let’s be honest, there are lots of reasons one chooses to move on – but the above are probably the most common.
We all know that we shouldn’t burn bridges, however there is a little thing that some employees tend to do that I like to call ‘checking out’.
‘Checking out’, also known as ‘tapping out’, is a phrase used in combat sports for yielding to the opponent, or giving up – hence resulting in immediate defeat.
This occurs when a person has psychologically removed themselves emotionally and mentally from their role and their organisation – resulting in disengagement in the workplace.
It can typically take place once a person has formally resigned, is working out their notice period, or when a person has committed to resigning, however hasn’t formally sealed the deal.
Have you ‘checked out’ before? Or have you had a colleague or subordinate ‘check out’?
Checking out can be one of the most detrimental things you can when you are planning on leaving an organisation.
The danger with ‘checking out’ is that, unlike the purposeful action of burning your bridges, the individual themselves may not realise that their disengaged behaviour is being perceived by those around them.
The individual thinks they are simply ‘transitioning’ but to their manager, and their fellow team members who take on their additional workload, they are destroying the reputation they have built up by all the work you did while you were still truly committed to your job.
The last few weeks/months of your employment can be the most powerful impression you can give of your work performance – and if you ‘check out’, it will cloud years of hard work and diligence.
So, before you hand your keys in, how do you stop yourself from checking out?
Here are six of my top tips –
Make a lasting impression
Treat your notice period like it’s the most important time of your whole employment. Despite how long you have been with the company, it is most likely the last few weeks that people will remember of their time working with you.
Exceed expectations
Perform at your highest level. It will leave a brilliant last impression and it will give you the confidence to start your next new role on a high.
Offer to train a replacement
This will mean the handover is smooth and ensure all of your hard work carries on.
Don’t become a big mouth
Now is not the time to tell people what you really think of them or pass on gossip you have heard. You never know when you will be working with that person next or how they will cross your path. The working world is still very small.
Don’t leave any loose ends.
Finish as many of your projects as you can before leaving. Leave with your head held high, and sometimes it could mean a nice little bonus which will help tide you over between the pay gay between the new or old job. Leaving projects unfinished affects your colleagues more than the employer or company.
Continue this after leaving
Even after you have left, continue with the confidentiality agreement and speak with respect about your former employer or colleagues. If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything.
Despite how ‘checking out’ might affect your colleagues or your reputation, the other key reason is you never know when you might need someone for a reference or worse your job back if the new role doesn’t pan out as you expected.