Leave with them standing in the aisles — by Dan Lynn

By Dan Lynn

One of my early bosses taught me a lesson I've never forgotten: always leave on a high. Run through the finish line. Leave with them standing in the aisles, giving you a standing ovation.

Most people do the opposite. The moment they give notice, they coast — mentally checked out, phoning in the last few weeks. It's the easy thing to do, and it's a mistake.

I tell everyone I coach through a job change the same thing: great, you're moving on — but give it everything you've got right up to the very end. The last impression you leave is the one people remember. It's the story they'll tell about you, the reference they'll give, the door they'll keep open.

The world is small and careers are long. Finish strong, and you don't just leave a job — you leave with a standing ovation.