VP: Gives the IC a dubious signal about a promo in the next cycle, mentioning tenure, budget constraints, or something incredibly vague.
IC: Lets go of the promo and seeks to switch teams at the same level in search of more interesting work and possibly to avoid a similar situation in the next cycle.
VP: Feels betrayed, claiming they were working hard on the promo case and that it might have happened in the next cycle.
IC: Gets accepted into a different team and wants to transition to the new role as smoothly as possible without burning bridges.
VP: Demands a three-month grace period.
IC: It wouldn't be fair to the new team and would probably result in losing the opportunity.
How should the IC navigate a situation like this?