If you think this day (or hour) is coming, nothing will prepare you better than being prepared. Obvious, but true.  Being prepared will significantly reduce your stress level and put you in more control – something you will need.

Chances are, your head will be spinning.  No matter how prepared you are, it will be a shock.  
 

1. GET ORGANIZED
Get your desk in order.

• Remove any personal belongings which really shouldn’t be there. We don’t mean the pictures on your desk, but most everything else. If you are ok with everyone seeing or knowing it is there, then ok.  If you have doubt, remove it.  For instance, remove personal magazines, company property you really should not have, etc.. Don’t give your company any reason to think you are not a good person.

• Copy or take home all your personal files.  Make sure this includes all company policies, compensation paperwork, your performance appraisals (important), anything you think may be even remotely be important.

Get your computer in order.

• Remove all your personal files  – resumes, photos, videos, personal documents. 

• Make sure you have all your business contacts in your personal information. They will be critical as you look for a new job.

Get your work email in order. 

• Remove all personal email on your work email program. (Send to your personal account.)

• If your personal email account is incorporated into your work email, remove this feature, link, etc. 

• Remove software which should not be on the computer.

• Remove all items which make you look bad.

• Save any emails you feel are important – company policies, promises made by other employees, derogatory emails which may be valuable later. (Send to your personal account.)

 
How do you know when you are prepared?
If your company asks you to leave straight away, minus the photos and other items on your desk, can you leave immediately without looking back?

2. MEETING PREPERATION
Knowing what to expect during the meeting will allow you to better control yourself, and the meeting.  To learn more, read BEING LET GO.

3.  FOLLOW THE 5 UNBREAKABLE POWER RULES

4. A COMFORTABLE EXIT
When you leave the meeting, you need to be in control. The world should not be spinning around you.  By being organized and prepared, you will need to walk out of the meeting with some key items. Here is a good list:

Were you offered a severance package? Make sure you understand all the items.
No severance package. Ask for one. They will say, “no.”  Have some canned responses ready:

• "I would like to be treated fairly for the many years I have worked here."

• "If you were in my shoes, I am sure you could see how a severance would be helpful."

Who are you to communicate with?
What are the timelines? Are they realistic and feasible for you? 
Ask for two weeks to evaluate the paperwork. After all, you may need to find a lawyer and have them review the documentation. This does not happen overnight. This is a fair request. 

If you do not have it, get a copy of all company policies. 

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