My Last Working Day

There is always a saying, First Impression is the Last one! but is it really so :).  I believed it 10 years back, but all my experiences over years made me realize the quote is incomplete in the corporate context we are all in. Lets try to complete it.. 

Story: It’s a story of an employee on his Last Working Day, coming to the office preped to leave his last marking note, has mixed emotions, deep feelings to miss his team , a feeling of accomplishment and full of anxiety/excitement for his next journey.  What does one expect out of this so very important day ? I am sure the answer is just the same for all of us, "One expects the day to be the greatest, full of joy and pride as it marks completion to a journey one started long back, paid a price in terms of hard work, personal sacrifices and a big portion of ones passion to succeed as a team." Isn't is so.

I am sure, took you back to your Last working day's in your careers and make you feel happy remembering good times, good team and most importantly symbolize your own experience with the leaders you worked with.  One of the key events you will clearly remember and will be able to echo will be how you were celebrated by your leaders on the last day. Believe me it's so very important for oneself. 

I have experienced this myself couple of times now :) and what I have realized is I remembered my past leaders lot by how was their interaction with me was on my LWD. It's like their signatures to me they left in my mental landscape.

For us as leaders it could be another employee exiting, but for the employee its end of a journey he/she chose to go with you along, it's a transition for the person and the team, it's about going through a change and getting ready for the next one. Should it not be celebrated !, absolutely a 100% of the time.

Say you boarded a flight from London to New York with an airline. When you enter the flight at the origin, all of them will try to welcome you, make you sit comfortable to start the journey. However, what really stuck me always for the DNA for an airline was how they greeted me while I de-boarded the plane, what really persisted with me is when the crew said at the exit "Thank you for flying with us". An employee departing for the team is as good as end of a hop in the journey for a team and you, as they get ready for the next flight.

It going to be the last thing to remember, its like the desserts you have after your full course meal. Now if all the meal was the greatest, but the desserts was not good, all you will talk to your friends and family is about the desserts and not recommend the restaurant. If say for instance the starters were not the best but deserts were awesome, you still cherish your experience in the restaurant. So, in a team your last impression as a leader is the most lasting impression.

This is the last opportunity for you as a leader to make the experience complete for the employee, your last opportunity to leave your final mark as a leader, your final opportunity to stand as a true leader whom the individual will feel good to be part of his journey :)

Morale: While the First impression is the last one, the last one is the lasting one !

Tips -

• Celebrate the journey of the individual (It's not about cutting a cake or making a speech, it's about truly valuing, letting the individual know of great things he/she did to the team)
• Be insightful on details you value ones contribution
• Talk about the journey of the team and the individual (Do remember, the team is never going to be the same team anymore, as any one person put in a team or pulled out from the team, changes the team)
• Thank truly and enough, don’t BS
• Do remember, it's about you & your signature and not about individuals image.