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THAT ALL IMPORTANT LETTER
Goodbyes are never easy when you are leaving a workplace you highly valued because it provided you with colleagues who became friends, professional growth in terms of new skills learnt and developed, and income.

THE BANQUET COMES TO THE AN END
There is a Chinese proverb that says the banquet has to come to an end however wonderful the feast is. And just as we should say our thanks and show our appreciation for a wonderful feast, we should say thanks to the company and colleagues who have either smoothed our way or challenged us to rethink our act (performance).

GOOD MANNERS, COURTEOUS CONDUCT AND RITUALS
If you would like to be regarded as gracious, if you would like to be remembered fondly and if you would like to leave on a high note then a thank you letter or an appreciation letter is the least you should do. Thus more should be done, but the very least if you are well-mannered is the goodbye (thank you) letter.

FIVE TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

1. Inform everyone that you are leaving. Many people may know but not all. What was a rumor now becomes a fact.

2.  If you appreciated your time at the company – tell the company. I have enjoyed my tenure at XXXXX. I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you.

3. Give thanks: Thank you for the support and encouragement you have provided me during my time at XXXXX

4. Missing colleagues:  Tell them by how much.

5. Keeping in touch: Let them know you want this and provide your contact details.

PROFESSIONAL VERSUS PERSONAL
Some say don’t be mushy – but I say write from the heart. Work is about our professional life, but when we feel as close as friends, and forge friendships then personal plays a role too and the leaving letter is a triple whammy:  professional courtesy and professional information as well as personal feelings.

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DOVETAIL
This is where business and personal friendship dovetails and when you think about it – in successful business there is a dovetail between the two. Sometimes personal is best because it is sincere and a leaving letter should be sincere. Thus the number one rule of a leaving letter is to be sincere.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Throw away all the templates – they are not always sincere and are certainly overused. This is another reason why the sincere genuine leaving letter is best.  The best letter is so well crafted that many people will say they wish you were not leaving.  That is when you know you have left on the right note. Now you can look back with pride and go forward to better what you have achieved so far and to do what you have planned to do – to go forward in new directions, to experiment, to take up new challenges and to open a new chapter. It is always good to finish a chapter on a good note and then you can embrace the new chapter without any regrets.

The number one rule
The best goodbye letter is a letter of thanks with a genuine sincere ring to it.

Leave well and go on to enjoy your new path