👋🏼 How to say goodbye to a person leaving the team - so it isn't awkward and helps your team grow.
A simple two step exercise that will say farewell in a style.
A must have for any Scrum Master or Tech Lead. I learned it from Isabelle Silfver and continue using it with any team I work with.
📜 The exercise has 2 steps and goes like this:
1/ The person leaving switches of their camera and microphone or sits with their back to the team and don't say a word.
2/ Team members share what have they learned or appreciated from this person.
💡What to remember about:
The person leaving is deliberately disengaged during the exercise to just sit and enjoy all the things without thinking how to react or what to say. They can thank others when the exercise if over.
The exercise is over when there are no other comments from team members.
Don't go in rounds asking everyone to speak up. Just explain the drill and leave space for things to emerge. Many people join in as they hear others speaking.
Why it makes a difference (my observations):
People love hearing about themselves and there is nothing sweeter than learning you were appreciated (and what for, be it small or large).
It helps to build a habit of appreciation of others' work and feel stronger connection with their current colleagues. In one team this led to having regular kudos session on retrospectives.
🙏🏽We appreciate each other far less than we should on daily basis!