There are many circumstances under which you could find yourself providing training for your replacement, such as you getting a promotion or putting in your two weeks. There may be the very rare chance that you would be asked to train the replacement for the job you’re being fired from, in which case there may be some bad blood but you can’t let this get to you. You have to remain professional regardless of the situation, and this article will tell you how.
First and foremost, know that you are the teacher. The replacement is there looking to you to learn about the job and the company is expecting you to teach him or her everything you know. This is a responsibility the company has given you, and so it has to be treated with the same professionalism you would give towards your actual job. To plan your training program, focus on the important things that will help the replacement do their job better and do not bad mouth the company no matter how buddy-buddy you get with the replacement. Don’t even say “the vending machine selection sucks.” Focus on the specifics that will make the replacement be a better employee.
Start the training by explaining to them what to expect from the job. Telling them how to handle unexpected situations is a great idea, especially if the unexpected situation happens routinely. This will save them time and frustration when it’s their turn to handle it. If you have any tips on handling the job then by all means let them know. It’d also be nice to leave them some sort of written memo with tips.
A lot of people like to leave a few documents on their computers for the replacements to cap off their training. If your computer gets wiped once you leave then obviously you can’t do this, but if you want to email it I’m sure they’d appreciate it. The documents should be professional and contain information you’ve accumulated that they can use, such as lists of tools and contacts you found useful. While these little pointers are a nice gesture, it’s also important to do because the higher ups will ask the replacement how you treated him or her. If they hear you went above and beyond for this replacement you never have to see again, you can bet it will be included in any letter of recommendation you ask from them (or promotion, if you’re still with the company).
Any chance you get to show quality leadership in a professional setting is a chance you shouldn’t pass up. Promotions almost always require more leadership responsibilities so the more you can get your hands on the better. Helping a replacement is one such situation, and while it’s always nice to go the extra distance for someone don’t forget that others are watching. Whatever training you give the replacement make sure it is done with professionalism.
Have you ever had to train your replacement? How did it go? Share with us in the comments section below!
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