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Goodbye: How To Write The Perfect Farewell Email
Summary: A well-written goodbye letter is how you open possibilities for celebration and give fellow workers a reason to enjoy your presence. And the best way to write that goodbye letter is to make them feel like they are unique people worthy of attention and effort from your side!
Saying goodbye to coworkers is difficult and at the same time it is crucial to express your admiration and gratitude for their assistance and encouragement over the years. After all, how does one even begin to sum up the weeks, months, or years that you and your coworker have worked together, the countless emotions they have sparked in you throughout this time, or all the experiences you have shared?
As you decide to change jobs, you know you will also have to write an email saying goodbye to all your coworkers; and this mail will hold a lot of importance, as it will bear the key to set the tone for the entirety of your tenure, as well as your farewell. Here is what you can write in your goodbye email:
Let them know what you will miss
Let the people know how difficult a decision it was for you to leave the organization, business unit, function, or project ; tell them of the things you came to learn, and how you are going to miss their presence. Remind them of going through all the thick and thin of every project you worked on, and tell them how you’ll miss the water cooler jokes, working extra shifts, the friendships, and the camaraderie. There is a possibility that people may be a little sarcastic or salty1. Make them feel good about being such a great team so that they don’t spin your leaving into “do you not find us good enough?”
Making a little light-hearted fun wouldn’t be the worst thing!
Bring humor into the messages you draft. It could be a recurring joke in your group. A self-deprecating joke that you are comfortable with is always an option. However, a joke at someone else’s expense does not qualify as charming. People would enjoy the fact that you are making a creative effort2, and remembering them fondly, especially through humor. Jokes shared between people is a sort of sign that you find that person pleasant and want to maintain a positive bond with them. This leaves people feeling much better about themselves and the bond that they shared with you.
Ask them to be in touch
Leave a few ways for them to catch up with you after you’ve left. Give your mobile number, your email address, and such. You can even share your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Insta handles with them. Let them know they can reach you whenever they want to. They will not be able to bring themselves to be angry or spiteful about you leaving, simply because you are such a likeable person who is genuinely telling them that they are remarkable people worth maintaining ties with even if the official work relationship is no longer there. Going the extra mile and even explaining why you want to be in contact leaves them feeling your presence and wanting to stay in contact with you.
Impact on Leadership
Star leaders bring a positive energy to the interactions they engage in by constantly making people feel good about themselves, spurring them to like you and support you in your endeavors. What may be an awkward situation where you have to essentially say “it’s not you, it’s me” can be made much simpler and happier by just talking about how your coworkers, employees and bosses are distinct individuals and shining a strong spotlight on their specialness. This leaves star leaders with a good rapport everywhere.
Star Mindset
A considerate farewell email requires skill to write. It may appear simple, but it’s difficult to express your appreciation for the firm and your thoughts about your coworkers. You must strike the correct emotional note by mixing sentimentality with modesty and respect.
3 Immediately Applicable Action Steps
- Highlight what you are going to miss about the organization and its people because they are so special and irreplaceable.
- Share a few jokes that reinforce your message that you desire to retain closeness with them.
- Ask them to contact you again for whatever they want and keep channels of communication open.
References
- Smith, J. (2020, April 15). 10 Reasons Why Humor Is A Key To Success At Work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecenizalevine/2019/04/29/how-to-quit-your-job-amicably-in-an-unfriendly-workplace/?sh=4d9777ac2d28
- Smith, J. (2020, April 15). 10 Reasons Why Humor Is A Key To Success At Work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/05/03/10-reasons-why-humor-is-a-key-to-success-at-work/?sh=2c82bf25c901
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