How to Finish Well

Layoffs are accelerating. Unexpected retirements are growing. Millions of people are having to make decisions that will determine if they finish well or finish poorly. When someone does not finish their position well, it makes it harder to successfully move on to the next chapter of life. But finishing well is easier said than done. Here are a few suggestions if you (or someone you know) are facing this time in life right now.

Fight the temptation of self-preservation.

It is so natural to look out only for ourselves. But those who finish well fight this tendency. Self-preservation is as natural a response as swallowing, but when it becomes a dominant motivation, it never results in finishing well. 

Invest in younger leaders.

Regardless of whether you are retiring, being laid off, or being pushed out, it is our job to invest in younger leaders. People invested in us, and we owe it not only to them but also to the long-term health of our organizations to invest in others.

Never burn bridges.

Burning bridges may be a good strategy in war, but it never leads to a good outcome when we are leaving a position. It is common to feel angry or victimized when involuntarily leaving a position, but trashing your organization or its leaders will follow you and your reputation.

Investigate new opportunities for your talents.

Everyone needs a mission in life. Whether you are retiring or leaving to pursue a new opportunity, carefully consider your talents and your passion. People do better leaving when they know where they are going and what they are going to do next.

Seek advice from others.

Have you been laid off? Seek counsel from others who have experienced this and landed on their feet. Retiring? Learn from those who are a few years ahead of you on the retirement road to avoid missteps and capture all of the possibilities that can be ahead.

Help others by documenting and sharing information.

Whatever your job, you know things others do not know. You have information the organization will need. It would be easy to say, “Not my problem,” especially if you feel you are being wronged, but that is taking the low road.

Work to stay engaged to the very end.

This is as hard as not burning bridges! Once you know you are leaving, it is so hard to stay focused and keep your head in the game. But those who finish a position well stay engaged. They don’t coast to the finish line. They continue running to the final day.

Expand your network.

Your emotional health, job opportunities, and meaningful activities emerge from your network of relationships. While it is wise to keep your relational network vibrant, it is essential to do so during times of change. Those who finish well often do so because of the support of the friendships they have developed.

Look ahead financially.

Both retirement and forced downsizing can create a lot of anxiety and stress. And much of that comes from the questions “Do I have enough money to retire?”, “Do I have enough money to take a pay cut?”, or even “Do I have enough money to handle the time it will take to find a new job?” To finish well, seek out guidance from a trustworthy financial planner.

Love your people by putting them ahead of yourself.

Don’t be one of those people who make a transition even more difficult by making it awkward. You know what I mean. Blessing over blame. Grace over guilt. Joy over cynicism. In other words, those who finish well focus on loving others rather than punishing them.

Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can assist you in finishing well and determining what comes next.

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.