Don’t Burn Bridges

Dont Burn Bridges dan skognes motivation blogger speaker teacher trainer coach educatorHere is a bit of practical advice if you are leaving a job or a relationship. Don’t burn bridges….build them. You never know when you are going to have to go back across that bridge, and if you left it burning in flames….good luck getting back across.

Why is it when people leave a difficult job or relationship, so many feel that it is their RIGHT to take vengeance and spew venom on anyone in shouting distance? What does that really accomplish? Who wins in that situation? Nobody. Everyone is damaged in the fallout…and any chance of you ever re-crossing the bridge in that job or relationship is pretty much gone.

After observing many people who have burned their bridges, here is some simple advice:

  • Don’t burn the bridge. I don’t care how bad you feel or how bad you were treated. Take the high road and treat them kindly and leave with some dignity intact (assuming that leaving is the only option). You be the adult and do the right thing regardless of how they act.
  • Remember the old adage that what goes around comes around. People reap what they sow…eventually. It is not your responsibility or obligation to make them pay for what they did. They will pay for what they did to you, just don’t wait for it to happen, and don’t gloat when it does.
  • Forgive people that wrong you. Forgiveness is for you…not for them. If you DON’T forgive people it will make you bitter….not better. Let it go…for your own sake. Don’t carry that bitterness into your next job or your next relationship.
  • If you have burned bridges in the past, for Pete’s sake…learn the lesson. If you keep doing what you are doing, how can you expect different results? I know people who have burned bridge after bridge…and then they are crying that nobody will help them. Hmmmmm….I wonder why? Stop burning the bridges.

Everybody messes up. We all have made mistakes and I am not trying to cast stones. I live in a glass house. My hope and prayer is that as you are reading this, it strikes a cord and helps you move forward and build, not burn bridges.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

 

 

3 Responses to “Don’t Burn Bridges”

  1. Ameeta U Patel says:

    Absolutely true especially what goes around comes around. I agree best is to move on

  2. John Zoll says:

    Nice reminder, Dan. I’m sharing this inside my organization as we are transitioning a couple thousand people out. The Business is international and a few months out from separation, opportunities may open up in other locations that seem more attractive than they might have before the doors close.

    • Dan Skognes says:

      You know, John, I have seen it happen time and time again where a company slashes employment only to find out they need back some of the people they let go. I wish life was not such a roller coaster ride…but at least we are strapped in for it. Shalom! Dan