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Letting Go: The Playbook for Firing, Exit Interviews, and Resignations: A Guide to Employee Termination, Ethical Exit Interviews, and Effective Resignation Strategies
The Essential Guide to Navigating Professional Transitions for Employers and Employees
Every career has defining moments. Knowing how to handle transitions, whether it is resigning from a position, conducting an exit interview, or managing employee terminations, can make all the difference between a setback and a stepping stone.
Letting The Playbook for Firing, Exit Interviews, and Resignations is your definitive guide to mastering professional exits with confidence, clarity, and integrity.
Written by Nathan Seal, a seasoned entrepreneur and creator of the acclaimed Professional Playbooks series, this book delivers actionable strategies for employers and employees alike. Inside, you will
Step-by-step guides and checklists for handling terminations, resignations, and professional transitions.How to approach resignations strategically, from choosing the right timing to maintaining your reputation.Proven methods for conducting and participating in exit interviews that uncover critical insights and improve organizational success.Best practices for firing employees with empathy, fairness, and legal compliance to protect your team and your organization.How to turn professional exits into opportunities for growth, reflection, and long-term success for everyone involved.Packed with real-world examples, practical advice, and tools to simplify the most challenging moments of a career, Letting Go offers essential insights for HR professionals, managers, and anyone navigating career changes.
Part of the trusted Professional Playbooks series, this guide is your key to thriving in every career transition.
Whether you are leading a team or charting your own career path, Letting Go will empower you to take control of professional transitions and move forward with purpose.
Do not leave career transitions to chance. Order Letting Go today and take the first step toward confident, successful professional exits.
Every career has defining moments. Knowing how to handle transitions, whether it is resigning from a position, conducting an exit interview, or managing employee terminations, can make all the difference between a setback and a stepping stone.
Letting The Playbook for Firing, Exit Interviews, and Resignations is your definitive guide to mastering professional exits with confidence, clarity, and integrity.
Written by Nathan Seal, a seasoned entrepreneur and creator of the acclaimed Professional Playbooks series, this book delivers actionable strategies for employers and employees alike. Inside, you will
Step-by-step guides and checklists for handling terminations, resignations, and professional transitions.How to approach resignations strategically, from choosing the right timing to maintaining your reputation.Proven methods for conducting and participating in exit interviews that uncover critical insights and improve organizational success.Best practices for firing employees with empathy, fairness, and legal compliance to protect your team and your organization.How to turn professional exits into opportunities for growth, reflection, and long-term success for everyone involved.Packed with real-world examples, practical advice, and tools to simplify the most challenging moments of a career, Letting Go offers essential insights for HR professionals, managers, and anyone navigating career changes.
Part of the trusted Professional Playbooks series, this guide is your key to thriving in every career transition.
Whether you are leading a team or charting your own career path, Letting Go will empower you to take control of professional transitions and move forward with purpose.
Do not leave career transitions to chance. Order Letting Go today and take the first step toward confident, successful professional exits.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 6, 2025
a third useful reference text from Nathan Seal
“Letting Go (The Playbook for Firing, Exit Interviews, and Resignations)” by Nathan Seal is a comprehensive, 360-page guide for managers and HR professionals that explores handling employee terminations, conducting exit interviews, and managing resignations. .
Seal emphasizes professional communication, legal considerations, and strategies to maintain team morale during transitions. And even offers his readers templates to assist their effective offboarding processes. .
Having previously reviewed both “The Entrepreneur’s Playbook” and “Hire Smarter” by the same author (from his Professional Playbooks book series), I found this installment to be equally valuable for leaders who are aiming to navigate employee departures with professionalism and care…making the book particularly beneficial for readers who may be seeking structured guidance on how best to manage workforce transitions. .
“Letting Go (The Playbook for Firing, Exit Interviews, and Resignations)” by Nathan Seal is a comprehensive, 360-page guide for managers and HR professionals that explores handling employee terminations, conducting exit interviews, and managing resignations. .
Seal emphasizes professional communication, legal considerations, and strategies to maintain team morale during transitions. And even offers his readers templates to assist their effective offboarding processes. .
Having previously reviewed both “The Entrepreneur’s Playbook” and “Hire Smarter” by the same author (from his Professional Playbooks book series), I found this installment to be equally valuable for leaders who are aiming to navigate employee departures with professionalism and care…making the book particularly beneficial for readers who may be seeking structured guidance on how best to manage workforce transitions. .
July 11, 2025
I chose Letting Go expecting bias, either toward the employee or the employer. Termination and firing are tough topics, and I thought it might be dry or overly corporate. But honestly, I was surprised by how thoughtful and well-organized this book turned out to be.
It doesn’t just talk about firing people like it’s a checkbox item. It really digs into the emotional side, the legal stuff, and even how letting someone go can affect the whole team and company culture. There are real-life examples and stories (like Zappos and Amazon) that helped make it more relatable and grounded.
What stood out most to me was the emphasis on fairness and communication—how giving feedback early and being transparent can sometimes help avoid termination in the first place. It also goes into the legal side in different countries, which is a bit dense, but I can see how that would be really useful for people in HR or management.
My only knock on it is that parts of the book can get a little too detailed, especially around legal stuff. I found myself skimming some sections. But overall, it’s very readable, and I came away with a much better understanding of how complicated and important it is to handle termination the right way.
If you're a manager, a business owner, or just someone interested in workplace dynamics, this book is definitely worth a read. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it also makes you realize that even tough endings can lead to positive outcomes when handled right.
It doesn’t just talk about firing people like it’s a checkbox item. It really digs into the emotional side, the legal stuff, and even how letting someone go can affect the whole team and company culture. There are real-life examples and stories (like Zappos and Amazon) that helped make it more relatable and grounded.
What stood out most to me was the emphasis on fairness and communication—how giving feedback early and being transparent can sometimes help avoid termination in the first place. It also goes into the legal side in different countries, which is a bit dense, but I can see how that would be really useful for people in HR or management.
My only knock on it is that parts of the book can get a little too detailed, especially around legal stuff. I found myself skimming some sections. But overall, it’s very readable, and I came away with a much better understanding of how complicated and important it is to handle termination the right way.
If you're a manager, a business owner, or just someone interested in workplace dynamics, this book is definitely worth a read. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it also makes you realize that even tough endings can lead to positive outcomes when handled right.
September 7, 2025
This book provides a practical approach to one of the hardest parts of professional life: resignations, exit interviews, and terminations. I liked how the book keeps the tone clear and empathetic while still offering step-by-step guidance and checklists. The examples make the advice easy to apply, and it feels useful whether you are an employee, a manager, or an owner.
One chapter that I especially liked was the chapter on freelancers, contractors, and temporary workers, which includes smart tips on how to grow without getting caught in unnecessary complications. Solid book that turns difficult situations in more easy ones.
One chapter that I especially liked was the chapter on freelancers, contractors, and temporary workers, which includes smart tips on how to grow without getting caught in unnecessary complications. Solid book that turns difficult situations in more easy ones.
July 22, 2025
a good discussion of a difficult topic
This book covers the appropriate way to terminate an employee, but also importantly, handles coaching, reassignment, and other intermediate steps to take to ensure termination is a last resort. With some helpful real-world examples, this book covers lots of situations. It can get a little redundant at times, and doesn’t deal with labor unions or civil service law, both areas for refinement or potentially a second volume. Otherwise, a helpful read for managers.
This book covers the appropriate way to terminate an employee, but also importantly, handles coaching, reassignment, and other intermediate steps to take to ensure termination is a last resort. With some helpful real-world examples, this book covers lots of situations. It can get a little redundant at times, and doesn’t deal with labor unions or civil service law, both areas for refinement or potentially a second volume. Otherwise, a helpful read for managers.
August 26, 2025
I really connected with how this book treats termination as a pivotal moment for both growth and development. Having been on both sides, I appreciated the reminder that performance or behavior issues often drive these decisions, and that the process has to be handled with care. The author does a great job of showing how terminations, resignations, and even exit letters reflect character and professionalism. I liked how the book also points out that many problems start with hiring, which felt very true to real-world experience. A strong, practical guide that gives clarity in tough moments.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews