What You Can Learn from Ann Curry’s Today Show Exit

Ann Curry announced this morning that she was leaving the TODAY show as its morning co-host, in a move that may have shocked some viewers and disappointed Curry’s fans. While it is unlikely that any of us will ever need to worry about leaving a position in such a public and high-profile way, there are some lessons we can all learn from Curry’s departure.

Stay classy. While Curry was reportedly angry about the decision to give her the boot, she resisted the urge to air her frustrations—though it must have been tempting, given that she had a live national television audience (and presumably the network had not instituted any sort of seven-second delay just in case).

Don’t burn your bridges. Curry decided to stick to showering praise and thanks on the people she worked with, even complimenting some of the show’s executives—despite the fact that they may have played a role in her hasty departure. That’s a smart strategy because you don’t want to badmouth anyone who could potentially end up being your next boss.

Focus on the positive. Curry talked about the new position the network gave her, which will allow her to head up a team of reporters who will cover national and international news and provide her with the chance to do more in-depth investigative journalism.

It’s okay to be emotional—and admit you are disappointed. Curry shed tears as she admitted this was not how she planned to leave the show, and she apologized to viewers for what she viewed as a failure to cross the finish line as she had wanted.

Don't get too comfortable. Even if you have made it to the top and landed your dream job, you should always be prepared for the possibility that things can change at any time, As many people have learned the hard way recently, there really is no such thing as job security.

How do you leave a job on a good note, even if you aren’t leaving by choice? Share tips in the comments.

Image courtesy of NBC