Breaking the news?

Summary:

How do you tell them you are leaving?

Breaking the news?

Guest3897897 10 Feb 2017 21:51

Hi,
I am leaving my current position for a better offer in a much better location.
What is the best way to break the news to colleagues/faculty?
Do you start with the Dean and then move down? Or should I start with my
psych department colleagues first and then move up?
Are individual in-person meetings better than a group email?

Thanks

Re: Breaking the news?

DocJ 10 Feb 2017 22:44

I think this depends on the institution. I think at the very least, letting your department chair know the situation in person is a best bet. As for colleagues, an email may work with a department at a larger institution. For a smaller department or those at a liberal arts college, I think one-on-one meetings with colleagues is probably for the best. Your chair can help advise on the procedure for notifying deans and others who are higher up. The process might vary if you might consider staying where your at such as if you want to use the new offer as leverage for salary, promotion, or other resources/benefits. From what I understand, you'll need to notify HR in writing as part of the exit process so they can advertise your position.

Hopefully others have insight. My past position transitions were always somewhat haphazard since I've never seen actual etiquette or procedural guidelines for this process.

Re: Breaking the news?

juniorfaculty 11 Feb 2017 03:47

Congratulations! This part isn't easy.

I notified my chair first and 1-2 people I was very close to in the department. I then immediately told the dean/provost as well (VP of academic affairs / dean of faculty — same thing as provost at many schools). Then I told the rest of my department. Then I told friends in other departments. I did all of this in person except for the dean, which was over the phone (because she was super busy), and I made a very strong effort to have all of these meetings happen within days / one week. I really went out of my way to make sure I saw all of these people in person and spoke to them as rapidly as possible. And being at a small school I knew the rumor mill would travel quickly so I wanted people to hear it from me, not someone else.

My advice is to tell your department chair first and then go out from there in order of importance in terms of relationship to you (plus dean/admin being early on in the telling, possibly the second person.) And if your department is smallish (10 or less), then try to hit up your whole department in person, and before you branch out much to friends in other departments. I also recommend as many in-person tellings as possible. If you know you're not going to reach certain people in person then you can e-mail or call but do try to make the effort. One person I had to tell in my dept was on sabbatical and was one of those cut-myself-off-from-the-world people. I had to go REALLY far out of my way to figure out a number to call her but I'm glad I did and she was glad I did as well.

I guess I'm saying just try your best to leave on as positive terms as possible. Congratulations again!