Random Friday thought: One of the best parting gifts you can give a colleague is a polite and professional reply when they send a goodbye email. This is your chance to strengthen your relationship with them, affirm and thank them for their contributions, and earn trust going forward. It also gives your outgoing colleague reassurance, encouragement and respect. Keep it simple, keep it classy. I've seen this rule violated with snarky comments and remarks, or worse. For the person on the receiving end of the response, who is probably going through very mixed emotions as they depart one job and embark on another, this can be at best insulting and at worst devastating to a professional relationship. Professional networks are an incredibly powerful thing, with first and last impressions having an enormous impact. When a colleague departs, take the time to properly recognize them and say "thank you". You never know when you'll see them or need them again. #leadership #dobetter …see more