There are moments in a workplace that stop you in your tracks. One of the most jarring is when a manager, who is not part of your team, suddenly steps in and begins directing the people you are responsible for. It is more than uncomfortable. It is a direct challenge to your authority, your role, and the trust your team places in you.
When this happens, the room changes. Your team looks at you, waiting for your reaction. They wonder whether you still have authority. They wonder whether you are being side-lined. They wonder whether they should listen to you or the person who has just taken over. And you feel it too. You feel the shift in power, the undermining of your position, and the quiet erosion of the leadership you have built.
This situation is not simply about ego. It is about structure, clarity, and respect. A team needs one clear leader. A team needs stability. A team needs to know who is accountable. When someone else steps in and takes control, it creates confusion, tension, and mistrust. It signals that your role is not being respected. It signals that your judgement is not valued. It signals that someone else believes they know better than you about the people you lead every day.
The real question is not just what happened. The real question is what it reveals. Why did this person feel entitled to take over your team. Why did they believe they could override your leadership. Why did they think The real question is not just what happened. The real question is what it reveals. Why did this person feel entitled to take over your team. Why did they believe they could override your leadership. Why did they think this was acceptable.
If a manager took control of your team in front of you, what would you do, and what would it say about the culture you are working in
Reshaping a team you have inherited is like repairing an airplane in mid-flight." —
— Michael D. Watkins, author of The First 90 Days and a recognised authority on leadership transitions.
