My Boss Just Quit, What Do I Do?
Don’t panic yet. Let’s dissect the situation and then if it still feels bad you can carry on with your hasty decisions.
Don’t panic yet. Let’s dissect the situation and then if it still feels bad you can carry on with your hasty decisions.
As someone who has been on both sides of leaving, I hope this helps (also see “My Direct Report Just Quit, What Do I Do?”).
Note: It’s okay to feel abandoned. Especially if you like your boss, their departure can feel like getting hit by a freight train. But do not let the feeling consume you.
Take a day or two to process, then roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Understand what you can and can’t control
Your boss is leaving. There’s not much you can do about it. No amount of begging will get them to stay, nor should you beg.
You cannot control the departure of your boss
You cannot control who replaces your boss
You cannot control what their personality will be like
You cannot control how others are reacting
You cannot control how the team will change
To quote a colleague, “you can’t set yourself on fire to keep other people warm”
But, what you can control:
You can control the work you are contributing to
You can control your own reaction to the situation
You can control how you show up for the rest of your team
You can ask questions to better understand the situation
Keep this top of mind over the coming weeks and think, “is this something over which I have control?”
Ask questions
This is going to be a bit chaotic, there’s no reason to pretend it won’t be. That’s why asking questions is going to be one of the most important things you can do (you can even use this post to help).
Asking questions during this turbulent time is not only good for you but good for your team. Plus, your interim boss may not be thinking about those questions quite yet.
Now is not the time to be shy. Be vocal (but respectful), and work with your interim boss to figure out the next steps.
Some starter questions
Who will be filling in for my boss?
What does the timeline look like for their replacement?
Any major changes I should expect?
What to do with X project I am working on with my boss?
Anything I can do to help the transition?
What expectations are changing for me?
Depending on how you’re feeling at this point, I encourage you to be a part of the solution. If the above questions go unanswered, work to ensure they get solved.
Recognize that things will feel different
It might not sink in right away, but things are going to feel different. Depending on their skill set, your boss was likely part of why the culture is the way it is. Even from a team perspective, your boss helped foster the vibe of your group.
Determine how you can fill the void (continuing to post memes, carrying forward fun traditions, etc) and carry that torch for those around you.
Especially from a trust perspective, things will feel bad. Don’t take this out on your interim or future boss. Instead, give folks the benefit of the doubt in the early goings as the dust settles.
It’s okay that things feel different. If you spent any reasonable amount of time with your boss, it’s bound to happen.
Prepare to learn what your boss was shielding you from
This is a tough lesson to learn. In a lot of cases, there are certain activities your boss will “shield” you from. Irrelevant meetings, initiatives, pestering from other departments, the list goes on. All will be revealed once that umbrella is gone.
Approach each with a solution mindset, and determine what to do with the raindrops. Is it for you to solve? Your interim boss? Your team? Determine the right group, and proceed from there.
Look for the opportunity in the chaos
I got my first management role because our Front End Lead left the company. Seeing a gap, I tossed my hat in the ring to move into that role and was given the opportunity to take it.
You won’t always be able to fill your boss’s role yourself. Look for where you might be able to help fill the gaps in the short term. Talk to your boss’s boss about what you’re interested in taking over until they find a replacement. Be a helper.
Note: Do not take this as an opportunity to backstab and claw your way into a promotion. That’s some 48 Laws of Power garbage and you’ll be found out pretty quickly.
Conduct an upward exit interview
Talk to the exiting boss about their view of the company landscape.
What did they like/dislike?
What are areas they were excited about if they hadn’t left?
How did they view your career trajectory?
What will they be passing along to your interim boss?
Anything they need you to carry forward?
Any warning signs to watch out for?
It’s 100% possible they’ll give you a crisis PR line of dialogue. You may not find out until they’re gone what things really look like, but it’s worth a shot.
Final Thoughts
Many other authors will tell you to approach your boss leaving like “business as usual.” I view that to be a condescending approach without much advice baked in. Business will not be usual, and that’s okay!
Embrace the change, talk to your leaders, and be vocal as things shift in a positive or negative way.