It’s very rare to find anybody who actually thinks that their boss is going to quit. The boss typically stands before the team proclaiming the merits of the company. They communicate compensation details, promotions, and performance reviews. And you communicate to them when you have concerns or have work that warrants their review. Recognition from the boss is a powerful motivator while their concerns have a level of gravity beyond that of other mere mortals. Bosses, well good ones anyway, are the people who explain to you your future and help set your expectations. They are integral to everything that exists in your perception of your company and in many cases, they can be said to actually epitomize your company for you. There is a famous phrase in HR speak that seeks to demonstrate the power of managers in the retention of people. It says, “people don’t leave companies, they leave poor managers”. When it comes to new grads thinking about their bosses though, maybe it should read, “managers don’t leave companies, they leave that option to me”! So as a new grad, what would you think if your manager suddenly disappeared to find fortune elsewhere? It might be something of a challenging conundrum! But actually, in reality it really shouldn’t be. As with all change, there is opportunity to be gained. If only you can focus on it.
It’s worth remembering that Managers are just like a new grad looking to develop their career. The only difference is that for them to develop theirs (ie: to move up), there are often far fewer roles for them to choose between. Equally, the roles that they might aspire to take are often filled by perfectly capable individuals who may or may not be motivated to develop further themselves thereby potentially creating a ceiling to your manager’s progression. And so, even if role progression is absolutely appropriate for your manager, he or she could be on the inevitable wait list of candidates for a particular level of responsibility as positions get squeezed towards the top of the corporate hierarchy. For the ambitious, the wait can often seem just too long (just as for new grads, the prospect of a second year in the telephone complaints department could feel abhorrent!) and therefore in order for them to achieve their personal goals, they opt for an alternative position most likely at a competitor.
Your reaction to such a move is important. Firstly, you must realize that your manager was not the company but rather an employee of the company who whilst likely to be missed, is unlikely to be the cause of the company to close down! Secondly, nothing has actually negatively changed for you if your manager leaves. Potentially, you’ve lost a person who helped you develop your skills. But it’s likely a new manager will be appointed who can do this too…and yet for the new manager, you’ll be able to demonstrate greater competency than you could with your first and therefore, will likely gain greater responsibility as a result. And this is the crux. When your manager leaves, it’s actually an opportunity for you. Your manager will have been the most aware of your weaknesses. Those mistakes you made as you trained in the role will have been forever ingrained into their minds. The new manager will not have this history. You will have the opportunity to appear even more competent from the start of the new rein and once the new chief recognizes this fact, you will likely be given more interesting and important work to do. Until proven otherwise, your default response to the departure of your manager should be that it could well be good for you.
As with all unexpected change, there is a tendency for people to assume the worst if their boss quits. However, by doing so, they miss one of the great opportunities in career development…to start afresh with better knowledge, more experience and as a better performer. Bosses, just like you, want development opportunity and the ability to progress up the management chain. As the pyramid gets tighter so the likelihood is that to fulfill their aspirations they will at some time be forced to move. As such, to see your boss leave your company should not fill you with dread but simply add to your experience of what happens in the corporate world. With this recognition, you can focus entirely on the opportunity that change presents you so that your new boss starts with an even higher regard for your contribution and potential than the last.
Loading ...
Had the boss move on many times in my career. I agree with your comments.
First, it’s a chance to “step up” since there is almost always a vacancy for some period of time. Make the manager above yours know that they can count on you to keep things running. Second, as you state, it’s a clean slate with the new person so make the most of it!