Leaving Your Project Early

What to do if you need to leave your project before its end date.

Sometimes unexpected life events will come up and make it difficult for you to complete your project. Maybe you are interviewing for a job, or have a serious illness in your family. When this happens, it is important to communicate with your team early and often.

• As soon as you know there’s a possibility you may need to leave your project, let your co-lead and project leads know

• Complete any tasks you have committed to, if possible, and let your co-lead know if there is anything you won't be able to complete

• Share your end date with your co-lead and project leads as soon as possible

• If you will be replaced, consider helping your replacement onboard, if possible, to relieve the burden on your team

It can be tempting to wait until you are certain about your leave to communicate with your team, but keep in mind that this puts your team in a very difficult position. They need time to select and onboard a replacement for you.

If it turns out that you won't actually be leaving the project, you are welcome to stay on, and your teammates will appreciate that you were transparent with them and respectful of their needs.