Alright, so the other week, my manager told us they were moving on. It kinda hit me, you know? Not in a bad way, really, but more like, “Oh, okay, things are changing.” This manager was actually pretty decent, helped me out a few times, so I felt I should say something more than just “Bye!” at the farewell drinks.
The thing is, writing these farewell messages can be super awkward. You don’t want to sound fake or over the top, but you also don’t want to sound like you didn’t care. So, I actually spent some time thinking about what to do.
Figuring Out What to Say
First, I just sat down and thought about my actual experience with them. Like, what specific things did they do that I appreciated? I didn’t want to just write generic stuff like “Thanks for your leadership.” Sounds like something from a corporate template, right?
So, I started jotting down some bullet points. My list looked something like this:
- That time they backed me up in that meeting.
- Letting me take the lead on the X project (even though I was kinda new).
- Always being pretty calm when things got stressful.
- Giving straightforward feedback, which actually helped.
Seeing it written down made it easier. It wasn’t just vague feelings; these were actual things that happened.
Drafting the Message
Next, I tried putting those points into sentences. My first attempt was rubbish. It sounded stiff, like I was writing a performance review or something. I wanted it to sound like me.
So, I tried again, keeping it simpler. I decided to structure it loosely:
- Acknowledge the news: Start by saying I heard they were leaving and wanted to reach out.
- Express genuine thanks: Pick one or two specific things from my list. I went with the project opportunity and their calm approach. Mentioning something specific makes it feel more real.
- Mention a positive quality: I added a line about appreciating their guidance or mentorship, kept it simple.
- Wish them well: Just a straightforward good luck wish for their next thing.
- Keep it concise: No need for a novel. Short and sincere felt better.
Getting it Done
I decided to put my message in the team farewell card that was going around. Felt a bit more personal than just an email, but less pressure than trying to say it all perfectly in person during a busy handover period.
I wrote something like (not exact words, but the gist):
“Heard you’re moving on – wanted to say thanks for everything. I really appreciated the chance you gave me with the X project, and honestly, how you always kept things calm really helped the team. Learned a lot from you. Wishing you all the best in your new role!”
It wasn’t poetry, but it felt honest. It covered the main points I wanted to make without being overly dramatic. When they read the card later (I wasn’t hovering!), I just got a simple “Thanks, really appreciate that” nod later on, which felt right.
So yeah, that was my process. Just thinking about specific moments, keeping it simple and honest, and focusing on genuine appreciation. It made the whole awkward farewell thing feel a bit more manageable and meaningful.
