For a host of reasons, colleagues sometimes decide to move on to greener pastures. Departing on good terms and being a great “leaver” makes them feel better about the decision.
In other cases, some colleagues are asked to depart even though they are well-liked and have been good citizens. For a multitude of reasons, they just don’t match what the team needs going forward.
When the leavers are valued peers who possess a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge, leaders often ask them to stick around and help make the transition of their departure easier. They are commonly asked to make a seamless pass to those who will take their place or complete their tasks. Between the time when others know they are departing and when they actually leave, they play the role of lame duck colleagues.
Whether the value of smoothly passing the baton to others during this transitional phase is worth the effort is hotly debated and probably best decided on a case-by-case basis.
What isn’t debated is the length of time for this transition and whether it is best for the lame duck colleague to attend meetings and participate in the ongoing flow of the team.
When physically present for more than a few days, even the best leavers can subtly undermine the confidence and morale of their prior teammates. Those asked to leave often leak their distaste for the organization’s decision even when they don’t mean to.
When leaving on their own volition, those who break the chain of commitment to the team raise questions for others as to why they would jump ship. Valued colleagues who leave intentionally encourage others to consider their choice to remain.
There is little upside in allowing lame duck colleagues to hang around. The sooner they disappear, the faster others can focus on the tasks at hand. Days, not weeks, will be the best strategy for dealing with all leavers.
When the best leaders require more transition time, they ask the lame duck colleague to avoid in-office and face-to-face interactions as much as possible. The need to attend meetings and forums ends immediately.
In an attempt to be nice and show everyone on the team some departures are the natural byproduct of a high-performing team, some leaders violate these rules to the detriment of team morale. Leaders can take the high road and treat leavers gracefully without ignoring the negative influence their presence will have on others.
Lame duck colleagues serve best away from the table. Duck sauce, anyone?
