Let Them Leave Well

We love the announcement posts, don’t we?
"Welcome to the team!"
"Excited to have you on board!"
"Big news, we’ve added another rockstar to the roster!"

But somehow, we fumble the exit.

We put up guards.
We act like we don’t care.
We punish them for chasing a dream.
We quietly remove the name from the wall and delete the photo from the staff or team directory.
We act as if their time with us didn’t matter.

And let me be blunt this needs to end.

As leaders, coaches, owners, and teammates, we can’t have it both ways.
We can’t celebrate bringing in talent from the same pool we condemn people for jumping into.
It’s a double standard.
And it’s broken.

The Truth About Leaving

People don’t always leave because they’re disloyal.
They often leave because they’re evolving and searching for:
New challenges.
Bigger opportunities.
Deserved appreciation.
Better alignment with who they’re becoming.

Isn’t that what we’re all doing?
Trying to grow, trying to find peace, trying to build a life that reflects what matters most to us?

So why do we get mad when our team members do the very thing we cheer for in others?

When a player transfers schools.
When an employee takes a job at a competitor.
When someone steps away to focus on their mental health, their family, or a long-held dream.

We assume things about them, rather than seeking genuine curiosity.
We question their loyalty.
We talk more about their exit than we ever did about their contributions.

That’s not leadership.
That’s ego.

What if We Sent People Off the Way We Welcomed Them In?

What if we championed the exit as much as we celebrated the entrance?
What if we honored their courage to take the next step, even when it’s not with us?
What if we became the kind of leaders who are safe to leave, not just serve?

Because here’s the thing:

People remember how you let them go more than how you brought them in.

And that memory will shape how they speak about your culture long after they’ve moved on.
It will shape how others view your team, your business, your character.
It will shape you in the eyes of many whether you realize it or not.

Let Gratitude Lead the Exit

When someone leaves your team, don’t let ego write the script.
Let gratitude lead.

Thank them genuinely for what they gave while they were with you.
Honor the effort, the energy, the wins, the growth.
Recognize that every season has an end, and that doesn’t diminish the value of the time spent.

Their departure shouldn’t erase their impact.
And your response reveals your leadership more than their decision ever could.

So choose to send them off with gratitude.
With respect.
With a spirit that says:
“You mattered here. We’re better because of you. And we’re cheering for what’s next.”

Because in the end, the mark of a great leader isn’t just how well you bring people in,
It’s how well you let them go.

Karli Moch