Tip: Don’t just say "So long"
When employees and colleagues leave your firm is it a “so long and best of luck” goodbye? Creating an alumni association is a way of recognizing the value of those people who leave the firm, and it’s a way to stay connected. McKinsey & Company’s article “The power of continuous career support: Embracing the full employee life cycle” describes the benefit of creating such an alumni network”:
“…we view the departure and alumni stage not as an end but as an opportunity—a true continuation of the people promise we make when someone joins the firm. Our alumni network, one of the strongest globally with nearly 60,000 members, stays connected through events, insights, continuous learning, access to professional opportunities, and even by hiring McKinsey talent or becoming clients.”
While you may not be a 60,000 member-strong alumni, any company can benefit from not sending departing employees to drift off alone on the proverbial iceberg.
Staying connected with former employees means you are all part of a network where you can help one and other. Remember, these former employees take their network with them and they continue to grow their network of valuable connections. As we say, “a network is a terrible thing to lose”.
If your firm doesn’t have an alumni program, this article gives you six key “Dos”. You can read the article here.
SHEPA LEARNING COMPANY WEEKLY POSITIVE NETWORKING® TIP
No. 1089, November 20, 2024
By Gayle Hallgren and Judy Thomson