By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN
How do you leave a difficult job situation without conveying anger? This was an interesting question asked of me by a leader whose position was eliminated after 25 years in her organization. She was given no options for other employment as the employer was downsizing. She will receive a fair severance package but was heartbroken about leaving an organization she had grown up in and loved. Her nursing leadership team was upset about her departure. She was looking for ways to make her transition a graceful one and not convey the extreme anger she felt about what had happened to her. This is a dilemma that many leaders may face in their careers. Some guidance from the experts includes the following.
1. Don’t stay too long because your position of power will decline immediately.
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 leadership team. Some of your colleagues may even avoid you because they are not sure what to say.
2. Don’t keep rehashing the situation in your own mind.
There are many reasons why positions are restructured or eliminated often having little to do with job performance. There may factors totally outside your control such as a desire to restructure the leadership or reduce the budget.
3. 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 and leadership. Let your team know that positions today are often not for a lifetime.
4. 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 25 years. You want to be sure the trail you leave is a positive one.
5. Be transparent about what has happened without whining or criticizing the organization.
Tell the truth about what happened to the best of your knowledge. You can also simply say that you have had a great 25 years with the organization but that it is time to do something else. Even if it is the policy of your organization, you may want to avoid an exit interview, especially in this scenario.
6. 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. Reconnect with your network.
If you have been with one employer for 25 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.
Read Rose Sherman’s new book – The Nurse Leader Coach: Become the Boss No One Wants to Leave
© emergingrnleader.com 2019
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