Write, but Do Not Deliver a Letter of Resignation If You Want to Quit
If you’re thinking about quitting your job, it’s easy to get carried away by negativity, jot down a letter of resignation, deliver it, and leave. Writer Todd Henry suggests an alternative approach: write a letter of resignation, but don’t deliver it.
The idea here is to take the time and really appreciate how you feel about your work. Writing this letter of resignation allows you to look at your reasons for leaving and decide whether to follow them. Once you’ve gotten rid of it all, Henry invites you to ask yourself a few questions about your job:
- How much of this letter could I change if I really wanted to? (In other words, where I disclaim responsibility for the situation rather than accepting my input.)
- Am I hoping for my job to give me what it ultimately can’t? (Identity, self-esteem, etc.)
- How much of this letter is a recent disappointment compared to old wounds that have not healed?
- What of what is written in this letter have I experienced in other jobs as well?
- Are there any patterns in this letter?
You may find that you really don’t hate your job that much, or that these green pastures aren’t all that green. You may also find yourself ready to go. Either way, this is a way to reinforce your feelings about leaving.
Write a letter of resignation, but do not submit it | Todd Henry