Manager Step Down

Our team was initially managed by Jane. A few weeks into the project, Jane explained to a colleague that she was leaving the team. Only when she noticed I was eavesdropping did she then tell us that I probably need to listen too. She told us which team she was moving to but she didn’t even give a date when this would happen. I thought it was bizarre that she announces it so casually rather than having a formal meeting.

The next day, when we were on a conference call with some remote workers, they were waiting for her to join and didn’t want to start the meeting without her. Jane did join on request, but she still didn’t tell them she wasn’t in charge, or even had left the team.

Afterwards, a team member in our office was outraged about it, because he wasn’t aware. She claimed it wasn’t her responsibility to tell people; the responsibility should fall with the new manager, Adam.

I’m thinking it totally is her responsibility. Adam shouldn’t just state he is in charge now – it should be announced by Jane, who then explains we need to listen to the new guy. It wouldn’t be her responsibility to hand over if she had been fired; only then you would expect the new guy to announce he is in charge, or someone further up the hierarchy to announce and introduce the new manager.

The funny thing is, months later, Adam suddenly leaves the business. His replacement started joining the stand-ups but didn’t speak for a few days, didn’t even introduce himself. When he finally introduced himself on the fourth day, he then had the awkward task of telling us Adam’s last day is today and will leave after he completes his handover.