What is the appropriate time to announce your resignation in advance?

If you are like me, resigning is hard.

We naively think that our teams will struggle if we leave them. Before leaving a company, we battle to organize and close the more topics we can, making the transition smoother. We even ask our new company for more time to extend our notice period, allowing the team to prepare better for our absence. To make matters worse, our bosses only praise us and exaggerate our importance to the team.

Honestly, I used to believe that. But after having this experience, my idea of a notice period changed utterly.

My story

I entered my boss’s office, looking as natural as possible. I had spent the last few days thinking about how to deliver the notice in the best way. I wanted to sound secure, warm, grateful, and make everyone happy. But I had failed.

So, instead, I was short and direct, as I was spilling something out of myself: “I’m leaving the Company.”

His smile turned into worry:

“Leandro, how can you do this to us?”

The conversation continued as an interview:

“Why are you leaving us? Where are you going to?”

Then, it transitioned into a praising session:

“That company doesn’t deserve you. You are fundamental to our Team. We can’t make it without you.”

The conversation (I mean, his skillful speech and my mumbles) took 45 minutes. I left his office feeling selfish and guilty. He made me believe I was letting him and my teammates down.

That was fine. I accepted it and continued. I had already made my decision.

But the best part came the following week. It was Friday morning when we received his farewell email:

“Thank you all for these awesome years. Today is my last day at this wonderful company.”

I couldn’t believe it. He gave me the most breathtaking “We are a Family” discourse I’d ever heard, although he had already sent his resignation. Not a single cue on his face made me consider that possibility.

I got 2 learnings from that experience:

• Some people can lie but still sound extremely trustworthy and convincing, so it is better to raise my awareness.
• We are employers and employees, but not a family. My family is at home, rooting for me and our well-being. The more clear I am about that, the easier it will be to make these decisions.

Then, what’s the appropriate time to announce your resignation in advance?

No more and no less than the established notice period by law. Do what is expected from you:

• Be professional and loyal by respecting your agreement
• Be fair with yourself and your family by seeking your happiness and well-being.