The Outgoing Leader: Staying Out Of It

The final stage for anyone transitioning out of a leadership role is to disconnect. There is a tendancy, especially for leaders that have been with the same team for a while, to have trouble letting go. Letting go is important for your team, the new leader, and for yourself.

Be careful not to jump in and try to solve problems just because you know how. If you have transitioned to a new leader, let them handle it. Even if they use a different solution than you would. Fight the tendancy to jump in and tell them how to do it. They’ll be better off in the long run.

If someone approaches you for help, kindly direct them to the new leader or the appropriate team member. Don’t try to solve their problem because you have before. I still get questions regarding one of my old teams, even though it has been over 4 years since I transitioned out of the role!

Finally, expect some difficulties after the transition. There may be some hurt feelings. Some team members may not adapt to the new leader fully. There is nothing you can do to control how othes respond. The only thing you can do is make a smooth transition, then get out of the way.

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