Fortunately, I've had the opportunity over my career to move on to bigger and better jobs, but that meant telling my current boss that I had made the decision to leave. This has always been nerve-wracking—and honestly—awkward. But once you've told your boss, what's next?

If you've decided to leave your job and you've told your boss, follow these tips in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today. Originally shared in Harvard Business Review, these tips will help you get over the hurdle of awkwardness and help you show your best self until you transition to your new role.

Strategize with your boss. You can unnecessarily create a lot of uncertainty by announcing your departure before plans have been made for your succession. Karen Dillon, author of the HBR Guide to Office Politics suggests, "It's important to have a rough game plan that you've discussed with your manager before you begin to let the world know you're leaving." That way you can address questions about what might happen your team or your clients.

Tell people in person. There's no substitute for telling people face to face, especially those closest to you at work and those who report to you. The same goes for work mentors, close friends on the job and peers whose jobs may be affected by your departure. In each conversation, outline whom you plan to tell next and when. "It's hard to ask people to keep a secret for you," says Dillon. "Feel free to ask them to respect a few boundary days as you tell people. That gives you the time to have more one-on-one conversations without the news getting out."

Focus on the future. If the reason for your departure isn't the most positive—perhaps you felt you weren't advancing quickly enough or you were clashing with a superior—resist the urge to vent or bad-mouth people on the way out. When people inevitably ask why you are leaving, respond with answers like "It was just time for me to move on." Do not bring up past grievances.

Leverage your influence to benefit others. Consider recommending people for areas that were your responsibility. "If you have someone on your team who wants more responsibility, you may want to tap them and say, 'Hey, this is now up for grabs. Why don't you raise your hand?'" But be sure not to make any promises you can't keep.

Get over the feeling that you are irreplaceable. The window of time between the moment you let people know you are leaving and your actual departure date can be awkward. We like to think we're irreplaceable, but all of a sudden you may not be invited to meetings or included in important discussions. Don't get distracted by feelings of exclusion. Says Dillon, "Try to focus less in those final weeks on being in all the meetings and focus more on making sure you're saying goodbye to people you care about and that you find ways to stay in touch, so that your relationships come with you."

Work hard until your last day. Don't sully your hard-won reputation by slacking off in your final few weeks. Go out on a high note by making sure that files and clients are transferred in a timely and organized fashion and that deadlines won't be overlooked in your absence. And take the time to express gratitude for the opportunities you've had there.

Source: Carolyn O'Hara is a writer and editor based in New York City. She's worked at The Week, PBS NewsHour and Foreign Policy.