How to Resign with Zero Regrets & Build a Bridge to Your Next Career
The Show Notes
Mentally preparing for the resignation conversation can be really overwhelming. Especially if your priority is to honor your relationships and leave on a positive note.
In this episode, we’ll learn two ways of how NOT to go about that important conversation. We’re also going to talk about two better options for how to resign with zero regrets – and could even be your first stepping stone to your next career.
Teachers resign for all kinds of reasons and leaving comes with a lot of emotions. You may be longing to leave in a way that leaves a positive impact and ensures that people know you are not abandoning them. If you want to resign with zero regrets, it takes thoughtfulness and strategy, but it is possible!
Put Yourself in Their Shoes
One way to engage this conversation carefully is to start with empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of your administrator. Their job is to invest in their staff and build relationships and a culture of community.
And then suddenly, they get notice that one of their very valuable staff members (that’s you!) is making plans to move in a different direction. What would they be feeling or thinking? When you take a moment to start from this place, it can help you be honest and sensitive at the same time.
Here’s What Not to Do
Ghost & Post In this situation, you may be burnt out or struggling with some really hard emotions. Maybe you just don’t show up because you want to make a point. Or you quit the same day you are giving your notice.
There are definitely some scenarios where this approach is needed, especially if it’s a safety or well-being issue. Generally, these are few and far between. If you can, try to avoid doing this so that your decision to resign is not mixed with conflict or unnecessary guilt or pain.
It’s Not Me, It’s You This is when your approach is fueled by blaming, accusations, and fault-finding. There may be parts of your job that are very unhealthy or dysfunctional. Your resignation letter is not the place to dump all of your negative feedback.
Just like you would tell your students – just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
What To Do
Positive Peacemaker Postcard Through this approach, you can leave your administrator a positive note on what you’ve appreciated about working with them and what new direction you’ve decided to go. Even if difficult to pick out, identify two to three ways you’ve grown in this position.
Bridge Builder If you’re in the place where you’re just starting to feel that itch to move beyond the classroom, take a minute to share those thoughts with your administrator. Ask them if they’ve ever had those feelings or if they have any insight or feedback for you.
But when the time comes to resign with zero regrets, follow that positive peacemaker postcard up with a conversation. Let them know why you feel challenged to take the next step and what new opportunities could open up for you – even if they are not 100% lined up. Including your admin in like this allows you to get their support and makes it easy to ask for a letter of recommendation for the future.
Dare to Be a Little Too Optimistic Approaching your resignation as a bridge-builder may feel overly idealistic, but I promise you that it is possible. I know because many teachers in our own community are thoughtfully working through this right now.
And if you’re avoiding the task of writing a letter or preparing for a conversation to resign with zero regrets, we have a new resource in the membership for you. We have resignation letter templates that you can take and tweak to take the stress out of starting the process!
What are your biggest priorities for resigning from your teaching position? How can we support you
Could you use the extra support in taking the next step after the classroom?
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Resources Mentioned in the Show
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