Nairobi, July 14 -- When many chief executives resign despite joining rival companies, there is never a fallout, at least nothing leaks in public. The seamless handover highlights an unwritten rule in many corporates that employees should learn from. So how do you resign without burning bridges or facing legal tussles?

Grace Nzula, a human resource consultant, says a resignation is about a relationship ending the right way. "A good resignation is one that follows laid out policies," she says.

For senior managers, this often means serving a notice period, sometimes up to three months. During this period, the person must keep working and support the transition, not check out early.

That is the mistake she sees most employees do. "You sta...