A kinder way to say “I will miss you”
Why it can fall flat
“I will miss you”
Colleagues may hear “I will miss you” as abrupt, too personal or oddly final, since it never says why the person mattered. Naming one specific thing you valued shows warmth and lands lightly.
Say this instead
- 01
It won't be the same without you on the team. I'll really miss working with you, and I hope the new job is everything you want.
Coworker · Chat
Casual and warm for a close colleague, and it closes on a good wish rather than just sadness.
- 02
Thank you for everything you've taught me. I'll miss working with you, and I wish you all the best in your next role.
Boss · Email
Respectful toward a departing manager, since the feeling comes with gratitude and doesn't read as clingy.
- 03
It's been a pleasure working with you on this project. We'll miss having you as our main contact, and we wish you well in what comes next.
Client · Email
Professional and warm when a client contact leaves their company or hands over the account.
- 04
I'll miss having you on my team. You've done really good work here, and I'm glad I got to work with you.
Someone you manage · Chat
Fits someone you manage who is leaving, because it credits their work without turning the focus on you.
- 05
Last day today! I'm going to miss our lunch chats. Thanks for making the office a good place to be.
Coworker · SMS
Friendly and short for a colleague you text with, and it names one specific thing you'll miss.
- 06
Thank you for your help over these past few months. I've valued our catch-ups and will miss them. Best of luck at your next company.
Recruiter / HR · Email
Suits a recruiter who helped you and is moving on, as it's appreciative without being overfamiliar.
- 07
I've enjoyed helping you with your orders and I'll miss working with you. Thank you for being such a thoughtful customer.
Customer · Email
Good for leaving a customer-facing role when you want to say a kind goodbye to a regular customer.
- 08
Missing you already! The team feels quieter without you, and your ideas in meetings are going to be hard to replace.
Coworker · Chat
Light and specific for the first days after a colleague leaves, when a warm note is still welcome.
Examples
Hi Nicole, Thank you for being such a great teammate over the last three years. I'll miss your calm way of handling tight deadlines, and I've learned a lot from working with you. I wish you all the best at your new company. Warm regards, Mikhail
Hey Tegan, it won't be the same here without you. I'll miss your humor in stand-ups and your help with the tricky reports. Best of luck on Monday!
What to avoid
- Don't write only “I will miss you” with no detail, because one valued thing makes it sound sincere.
- Over-the-top emotion in messages to bosses, clients or recruiters rarely fits, since a warm but measured tone works better.
- Promises you may not keep, like “we'll definitely meet up soon”, should stay out unless you mean them.
- Jokes about the extra work you'll now have to do can sound like a complaint, so skip them.