My boss stepped down and I ended up crying because he was leaving .

14 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 17,2025 at 11:23PM UTC

   Being professional doesn't mean you aren't human. To be a great leader and professional you should feel human emotions deeply and authentically. If he was a good man and good boss it's great you didn't hold back. Your reaction to a heartfelt moment was perfect.

2. LauraApril 18,2025 at 2:07PM UTC

   There is nothing wrong with being a human and showing emotion. It's beautiful that someone had that positive of an impact on you both personally and professionally! What is the reason your new manager isn't happy with you? Because you cried?

3. AnonymousApril 18,2025 at 10:32PM UTC

   I'm not sure why my incoming manager doesn't seem to be happy . His comment was "no more baby sitting" meanwhile I have performed my job excellently well. My previous manager is retiring has been very kind and accommodating.

4. Lisa OGradyApril 22,2025 at 12:39PM UTC

   I think I’d want to kindly know exactly what was meant by that comment and discuss any pre-conceived issues he may have. If you’ve had good job reviews in the past I’d have a bit of a problem with his comment.

5. GirlBossanova934974April 19,2025 at 1:19PM UTC

   I think you need to give your new manager a little bit more leeway. Do you know for certain why your manager is mad at you? Do you even know for certain they are mad at you? Managers have bad days just like everyone else and they may been a little short with some people as a result. As for crying when your old manager left? I wouldn't give it a thought. To be perfectly honest, many employees are cheering when most managers leave these days. They can't wait to see that person out the door..

6. AnonymousApril 19,2025 at 4:16PM UTC

   Absolutely not. We are human after all. I faced the exact same thing; left a very toxic work environment and started working for, I would say, the best boss ever. After six months of work bliss, he said he was leaving. I cried like someone died; it was the reaction at the time. I never apologized for my feelings, but wished him well in his future endeavors. I finally experienced what a green light boss looks and acts like, and will not settle for anything less, even if that means job hopping in my end stages of my career.

7. AnonymousApril 19,2025 at 4:58PM UTC

   The same way that you worked with your old manager. Sit the new one down let them know that you really liked working with the last manager and that is why you had an emotional response. Tell them about the traits they had that motivated you to be your best at work. Teach the new manager to work with you set expectations about how you take feedback and how you get direction and ask them what they want and need from you and how they would like to be communicated to and with. Keep track of your progress and remember each new manager will teach you something new (hopefully) and each comes with their own style and experience. And lastly no one comes with an instruction manual so treat this as a brand new collaboration that need time and nurturing to be productive. Good luck!

8. AnonymousApril 19,2025 at 11:37PM UTC

   Agree with this response to the OP.

   I was in the SAME position when my boss retired. Though I wasn't the only one who cried at her retirement event. There were many dedicated higher level executives who also cried! But I was tight with her -- I anticipated her needs very well and we had a great rapport. Everyone recognized that.

   The new executive basically ghosted me for 17 days, as I had asked several times to meet to share almost verbatim what this response stated. She never gave me that chance.

   I finally got her to agree to a 1:1, though she brought the HR director with her, let me know that they were eliminating my position (as she was keeping her own support person), and I was laid off.

   Sympathies for the OP - praying that it works out for you. I feel that my 'new boss' was threatened by the high achievements of my old executive boss and that she thought I may not support her fully due to my loyalty and dedication to my old boss. It was the job I was passionate about. My old boss made it easy because she was an incredible, inspirational leader and boss. The new person does not have even a slight bit of integrity that my old boss had, sadly.

9. AnonymousApril 20,2025 at 5:53PM UTC

   Often a new manager who gets an inheritance of someone who was close to the old manager decides to hire their own instead. It stinks especially for someone who now becomes collateral damage to this whole situation. Hopefully they have the chance if that does happen to follow the old manager to greener pastures.

10. AnonymousApril 26,2025 at 5:31AM UTC

    Wish that was the case for me (that I could still work with my executive). My wonderful boss retired & moved out of state. I'm having a lot of difficulty finding a new job that wants to pay what I've built up to in my career. I won't settle for a position offering 10-15k less. That's almost 10 mos rent for me at this point! Ugh!

11. AnonymousApril 26,2025 at 3:28PM UTC

    OP above often this does happen and alas in this bad job market which is taking 6-9 months for most and more for those not working and in some specialized fields, longer. Everyone is on discount these days and with the economy being so off kilter I understand not wanting to take less. Wishing you the best in your search!

12. Kelly MeigsApril 22,2025 at 12:36PM UTC

    I got some advice from an old friend when I got a new boss:

    When you get a new boss, you get a new job. All the things you were doing before may not be what the new boss wants you to do. In fact, they may not care AT ALL about the things you were doing before. It's now your job to figure out what's important to them, what KPIs are important to them and adjust accordingly.

    (But, no, you're only human. Give yourself some grace. :-) )

13. AnonymousApril 22,2025 at 3:49PM UTC

    Aww, I had a really great boss in my first civilian job after the military, and I too cried on his last day (this was back when companies actually cared a little about employees and they threw him a party). We have feelings and can forget that work is work, and people have personal lives and move on to what is important for them. Your new boss is a new person and your position has now changed - you basically have a new job and need to treat it like a new job, because the new boss may have been hired to handle changes in the department or how things are done, bring in new people. Don't think that the new boss dislikes you - do the new work and learn how your new boss does things and prefers to handle the department. Give yourself some grace, and remember work changes more than personal life does. Try not to get attached at work to people or processes.

14. AnonymousApril 30,2025 at 1:02PM UTC

    I recently lost my SVP. The mood in the office these days is as cheerful as a funeral.

    Some bosses personify the company culture and their absence hurts.

    The new manger needs to get over themselves.