my team lead will go to an one year maternity leave soon and I am the only senior in the team. In most of cases, the senior will act the team lead for one year. However, my manager M (the boss of the team lead) is a very different person. Whenever there is an opportunity, she never gives the opportunity to people within the team. She had done such nasty things many times. this is one of reasons that 60% her employees left the team within 2 years since she became manager. her other personalities which scared people away are control freak(very micro and no room for team lead), very demanding. She is a workaholic without family (she is over 40). one thing positive about her is she is very knowledgeable.
I plan to leave this team and have applied some jobs within the company. However, I also do not want to pass over this opportunity. I am confident about my competency and I have helped her in other areas which are beyond my job duty in past 3 years. My work has won reputation for her and the team. In summary, I feel I deserve this acting opportunity.
My team lead really appreciates my skills and she offered to talk to the Manager M and ask to give me the acting. I never mention this to her and never ask her to do this for me. she told me that she think I am the best candidate. However, it has been two weeks and she never bring that topic again. I totally trust her because she really support my career in every way she can. I guess M did not approve her suggestion.
I want talk to M in person to find out why she does not want to offer me this opportunity. but I do not know how to construct this conversation and how to ask the question strategically.
Can you expert help me on this?