I wrote this post on LN when I left Anaplan in 2020. I think there is a lot of good advice on how to manage a transition.
Even if for a short period of time (3 days is really short!), I am in transition between 2 jobs. I will forever be grateful for my time at Anaplan, so saying that it’s been a tough decision is an understatement!
Here is why I wanted to write this article: For very good reasons we kept it very confidential until mid-week prior to my departure so the flow of goodbyes was concentrated over 48 hours….. and they totally, utterly overwhelmed me. I expected some nice emails and calls, but not that many and not so deep. Had to practice deep breathing many times over the period. Why, why, why came to my mind, and I realized that I changed a few things during my tenure at Anaplan, based on the previous 25 years of experience, which probably led to that.
I just wanted to share them, for what it’s worth.
Be Your Self. I may have not brought the full 100% of me at Anaplan, but very close. Because one of my managers advised me to not bring my whole self some time in 2002 in Bangkok when I was over in Asia (yes it did stick with me) because of the level I just came at, I did not for almost 18 years. So it took 18 years for the people working with me to understand that I love shining on the dance floor, something very well known by all my personal friends, just one example. Bring yourself to work, you’ll feel better and people will relate closely to who you are, not who you try to be.
Stay Your Self. Do not compromise who you are, because of politics, bad behavior, orders, play safe, whatever else. Stay who you are. I learned it the hard a few years back, only bad things happened. Never compromise this one, better go than do that. The positive side is that then, you are called predictable, and predictability creates safety, because there are no surprises about what you are going to do or not do, an immense safe room is suddenly created around you as a leader, and people like safety.
Be Transparent. Don’t hide, nobody is perfect, you also have your good day/bad days, bad moments, just get it out there. My team knows who ‘Bad Christophe’ is and what triggers that guy and how it is going to play out, and finish, the good one will come back because you are predictable. Transparency brings authenticity, authenticity is something that we all like, even if it means discomfort and vulnerability. We are only human, practice transparency, and vulnerability.
Be Disposable. That’s a hard one, especially for educated 50+ white male senior leaders. NO, they don’t need you, YES they can run the business without you. Work your a$$ off to be disposable, not indispensable. You don’t need a successor, you need your team to succeed you and be successful WITHOUT you. I tried many times, I think it took me 30 years to get it right. Trust me, it is super fulfilling, you know your legacy will live longer than your name.
Leave with class, and to the end. That’s what I’ve been told during the exit interview and that was a high moment. Nobody saw me leaving coming although I lost sleep, appetite, workout for the weeks, and weeks I was going through the process. You owe it to your company, you owe it to your team, you owe it to yourself. My last email and it was not a goodbye email, it was an action on a deal, came out 1 minute before my access gets revoked. Not intentional, I was rushing back to my laptop when I realized it was 4:55PM Friday night.
Last, Don’t Look Back.