One of my clients recently landed a great new job, and as excited as she was about what’s to come, she came to our next coaching session weighed down with guilt and dread about leaving her current organization.

She wanted to know: How do I tell my manager that I’m leaving? How much notice do I give? How do I make this transition in a way that doesn’t put too much of a burden on my team?

It’s no wonder this was gnawing at her—she told me that her manager regularly joked that, You’re never going to leave me, right? If you do, you have to give me a year’s notice!

While it’s great to know that your boss values your contributions (to the edge of dependency?), no one wants to feel trapped in their position like this.

Here’s what I know to be true…