Last Impressions Are Everlasting!
There’s a lot of advice out there about how to make a great first impression. But not enough people talk about the last impression. How you leave a team or a company can often define how you’re remembered, far more than you think.
When engineers are on their way out, whether it's for a better opportunity or just time for a change, there's a temptation to mentally check out. “I’m done here” they think. But your reputation doesn’t stop the day you resign. In fact, the way you handle those last few days or weeks can either seal the good reputation you’ve built, or destroy it in a flash.
A while back, an engineer reporting to me gave notice. Totally fair. People move on. But from the moment they resigned, they switched off. No-shows in daily standups. Hours to respond to Slack messages, if at all. The rest of the team picked up the slack while they coasted, thinking no one would notice. People did notice. What could’ve been a respected send-off turned into a silent goodbye, and a reputation that took a hit.
Now, contrast that with something from my own journey. Back in 2005, I was wrapping up my time at Philips Semiconductors in Bangalore. Three days before my last day, I was up till 1 AM in the lab, determined to fix a tricky bug in the MOV file decoder I had been working on for the past several days. I wasn’t chasing praise or some final reward. I just wanted to hand off something complete and solid. The next day, I passed it along proudly to my teammate. To this day, that’s one of my proudest exits.
Break your reputation or leave like a pro!
If you’re ever thinking of leaving, here’s what not to do if you care about the name you leave behind:
- Slacking Off: Disengaging, missing meetings, being hard to reach.
- Negative Talk: Complaining about the team, product, or leadership on your way out.
- Withholding Knowledge: Leaving gaps in documentation, not sharing important context.
These behaviors not only make life harder for your team, but they can also follow you. Tech is a small world, you never know when you’ll cross paths with former teammates again.
Now, here’s how to leave with your head high:
- Stay Engaged: Show up, contribute, help the team move forward, even if you're leaving.
- Help Out: Offer to assist in the transition, answer questions, and support your teammates.
- Document Thoroughly: Write down everything someone will need to pick up where you left off.
- Be Professional: Keep your tone positive, avoid gossip, and end on a respectful note.
Leaving gracefully isn’t just about your current team. It’s about the reputation that follows you to your next role.
If you’re a manager who’s moving on, the stakes are even higher. You’re not just handing off your own work, you’re responsible for setting your team up for success after you’re gone.
Here are a few things you must consider:
- Prioritize Your Team’s Future: Try to complete or at least contribute to performance reviews for your direct reports before you leave. It’s a small effort that shows big care.
- Leave a Strong Context Trail: Thoroughly document ongoing initiatives, challenges, team dynamics, and key technical or strategic decisions. Your replacement will thank you.
- Don’t Rush the Exit: Give plenty of time for the handoff. A thoughtful, deliberate transition makes your departure feel like a professional move, not an escape.
How you exit as a manager reflects not just on you, but on your leadership style. Take the time to close out your chapter with care.
I’ve seen both kinds of exits as a manager, and I can tell you, those who leave like professionals are remembered fondly. Their contributions live on, and they’re the ones I’d gladly work with again in the future. Those who burn bridges? Well, it’s hard to forget those, too.
Your last impression might just be the one people remember the most. Make it count.