04/11/2025
As 2025 draws to a close, employees planning to resign in the coming months (or in the new year) should prioritise leaving with grace, as resignations today are far more than a mere formality – they’re a defining moment in a professional’s career, a leadership expert says.
Advaita Naidoo, Africa MD at Jack Hammer, Africa’s largest executive search firm, notes that it’s increasingly common for people to resign impulsively, throwing caution to the wind. Yet, in today’s interconnected world, professionals should exercise greater care than ever when exiting a role.
“The temptation to blow up on the way out is increasingly common, as most people are facing unprecedented pressures from all sides. Many resignations occur in emotionally charged moments, often when unresolved frustrations – whether with management, workload, or culture – bubble to the surface,” she says.
However while venting pent-up grievances or storming out in a blaze of glory might feel cathartic, it’s a self-defeating move which will severely impact future options.
“Emotional outbursts during resignation can torch bridges, damage your professional reputation, and limit future opportunities in ways that are hard to repair. Your reason for leaving, whether it’s burnout, a better offer, or a career pivot, is less significant than the way you leave. Choosing professionalism over impulsivity will ensure you leave behind a positive legacy, and don’t firmly shut any doors on which you may need to knock again in future.”
Naidoo says there are two reasons why burning bridges today are even more harmful than in the past: 1) The fact that the world is now much more inter-connected and 2) the talent search mechanism called back-channeling.
Click below to find out what BACKCHANNELING is, and how it can impact your future options.
https://www.educationtoday.co.za/careers-education/how-to-resign-with-your-future-intact/
