People seem to be finding new jobs.
At least that is what I have heard lately. [Ed: and the Law Shucks Lateral Tracker is a great way to keep an eye on that!]
This leads to the issue of sending someone off gracefully. We will touch upon the graceful exit in another post (i.e. what the person leaving should/should not say or do).
But, here I wanted to address those of us left behind, and how best to treat the person leaving.
If you ask people who have left places of employment – firms, companies etc. — most of them will easily remember if they were not treated well on the way out the door.
And I don’t just mean by management.
I mean, by colleagues.
People seem not to know how to control their mouths when it comes to colleagues’ departures.
I recently ran into a former colleague. He left a firm at least 4 years ago. When we started talking about the former firm, one of the first things out of his mouth was how weird people were when he left (to go in-house, btw), and how one of the main partners who he did a lot of work with didn’t even show up at his going away lunch – and didn’t seem to have someplace else to be. People remember these things.
And guess what? This guy is in-house and in charge of a pretty big legal budget now. Is he going to call his non-lunch buddy from former firm? NOOOOOO
I am telling you that most of us DO remember the dumb and snide comments that were made when we were leaving.
So, here’s a lesson to the wise.
Colleagues come and go.
Most people change firms, companies, etc.
Do not take it personally, it happens all the time.
You know I always tell you to stay classy.
The proper way to handle this is just to tell them that you will miss working with them (if you can be sincere), to wish them the best of luck, and to ask for their new contact information. If you really like them, take them to lunch or coffee. When one is transitioning out, it can be a hectic time, so if they just don’t have the time, offer to follow up in a few weeks once they get settled in at the new job. (NOTE: fawning over new in-house people is clearly recognized as such, so take a light touch).
Why? Well, aside from being a decent person, there are several other reasons. I don’t seem to get why people do not understand that when someone leaves your office, they actually become more valuable to you as a contact — if they are going in-house, that is a potential client; if they are moving firms, that is a potential referral. People outside your firm or organization are not the enemy…they can be allies, referral sources.
If people like you and think highly of you — like you are a classy person who treated them well — they will call on you for things like speaking engagements, committees, etc.
People go to people they know.
And they might even call you about a new job down the line.
Remember, a few nice words now can make a world of difference in the future.
Snide, stupid comments do not build your network by any stretch of the imagination.
Oh, and if you are looking to get the heck out of your workplace, don’t feel the need to dump that on the person leaving….maybe set up a meeting after they leave and are settled to discuss career issues with them – assuming they can be trusted.
And when your friend is settled, email, Linkedin, Facebook, make it easy to stay in touch. Give them a call or set up a coffee, lunch, an after work drink to see how they are doing. They will appreciate it. When someone emails me new contact info — even if it is a generic email to a bunch of people in the firm – I forward it right away to my assistant so she can update the information in my contacts. That way it is easily accessible. It takes a little bit of time to make the effort to stay in touch, but is well worth it.
Remember, build, don’t burn those bridges. Maintain, don’t lose, a contact. Or that old song I learned when I did Girl Scout-type activities: “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.”
Related posts:
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Someone has to do it… no discussion of lawyers' departures is complete without referring to the Paul Hastings version:http://throwingthings.blogspot.com/2004/05/yes-bu...
As many of you are aware, today is my last day at the firm. It is time for me to move on and I want you to know that I have accepted a position as "Trophy Husband". This decision was quite easy and took little consideration. However, I am confident this new role represents a welcome change in my life and a step up from my current situation. While I have a high degree of personal respect for [Name] as a law firm, and I have made wonderful friendships during my time here, I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities. In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a piñata and beaten than remain with this group any longer. I wish you continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.
May the smoke from any bridges I burn today be seen far and wide.
Respectfully submitted,
[x]
Someone has to do it… no discussion of lawyers' departures is complete without referring to the Paul Hastings version:http://throwingthings.blogspot.com/2004/05/yes-bu...
As many of you are aware, today is my last day at the firm. It is time for me to move on and I want you to know that I have accepted a position as "Trophy Husband". This decision was quite easy and took little consideration. However, I am confident this new role represents a welcome change in my life and a step up from my current situation. While I have a high degree of personal respect for [Name] as a law firm, and I have made wonderful friendships during my time here, I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities. In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a piñata and beaten than remain with this group any longer. I wish you continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.
May the smoke from any bridges I burn today be seen far and wide.
Respectfully submitted,
[x]
haha! I had reposted that farewell email in another comment a few weeks ago. It never gets. NOPE. it never does (or maybe I never grow up, whatever…)
Anyway, this really stood out to me: "People outside your firm or organization are not the enemy…they can be allies, referral sources."
Yeah, I really don't get why lawyers don't get that. It's not like we are leaving the north to join the confederates when we leave the firm. And I've noticed that so many people that were snide assholes when I left are all of a sudden emailing me asking me to help them find a cushy in-house position like mine. I could help…but…nah, it's cool. I'd rather surf the internet and read lawshucks.
Another thing, you never know who will see your resume. In-house counsels like each other. They talk. They lunch. They aren't' as competitive as you private practice attorneys are, in and outside your firm.
This is a common situation.In-House Counsel A gets a resume (let's call him John) from candidate (let's call him Dudley D) who went to [random ass BigLaw firm]. John calls up his buddy Jane, another in-house counsel, who he knows came from [random ass BigLaw] and asks about Dudley D at which time Jane informs John that Dudley D's full name is actually Dudley Douchebag and explains all the reasons why using shattered glass as contact lenses is a better idea than hiring him. And now that Jane knows Dudley's looking, she'll be sure to tell more than just John her thoughts. Dudley Douchebag just dudley-dooed himself out of a job…maybe two.
I'm not saying let's all be nice to each other, because, c'mon, we're lawyers. We don't get paid for feeling feelings. But I'm surprised how some people go out of their way to be Dudley Douchebags to lawyers leaving the firm (for whatever reason).
haha! I had reposted that farewell email in another comment a few weeks ago. It never gets. NOPE. it never does (or maybe I never grow up, whatever…)
Anyway, this really stood out to me: "People outside your firm or organization are not the enemy…they can be allies, referral sources."
Yeah, I really don't get why lawyers don't get that. It's not like we are leaving the north to join the confederates when we leave the firm. And I've noticed that so many people that were snide assholes when I left are all of a sudden emailing me asking me to help them find a cushy in-house position like mine. I could help…but…nah, it's cool. I'd rather surf the internet and read lawshucks.
Another thing, you never know who will see your resume. In-house counsels like each other. They talk. They lunch. They aren't' as competitive as you private practice attorneys are, in and outside your firm.
This is a common situation.In-House Counsel A gets a resume (let's call him John) from candidate (let's call him Dudley D) who went to [random ass BigLaw firm]. John calls up his buddy Jane, another in-house counsel, who he knows came from [random ass BigLaw] and asks about Dudley D at which time Jane informs John that Dudley D's full name is actually Dudley Douchebag and explains all the reasons why using shattered glass as contact lenses is a better idea than hiring him. And now that Jane knows Dudley's looking, she'll be sure to tell more than just John her thoughts. Dudley Douchebag just dudley-dooed himself out of a job…maybe two.
I'm not saying let's all be nice to each other, because, c'mon, we're lawyers. We don't get paid for feeling feelings. But I'm surprised how some people go out of their way to be Dudley Douchebags to lawyers leaving the firm (for whatever reason).
{ 2 trackbacks }