New Manager, HELP!

It's freq a tough situation when someone takes on a new role/position and the previous holder is still in the picture. So what you're experiencing is NOT unusual.

I would have one big suggestion - keep work AT WORK and don't comingle work into neighborly neighborly-ness.

Good advice from previous poster, llg

Maybe the stakes are higher in your position (than dealing with problematic peers at the staff level), but what about handling this the way a lot of similar stuff can be handled: By not doing anything that lends energy to it. Fail to react. Don't be the wind in the sails. Etc.

?

IMO it's quite likely that the underlying theme here is validation (hers), because these are (generally) the behaviors of insecure people.

Think about this situation from her perspective. She has been doing a ginormous job. In fact, she has been trying to do the job of two (or probably more) people. That in itself is often sort of dissatisfying in that it's just too difficult to do everything as well as it could be done by the proper amount of people. There are loose ends and things falling through the cracks and things that had to be done in a "good enough" manner instead of top-notch. There is plenty that others can come along and critique. Being relieved of all of that pressure is a good thing, but may feel like failure/defeat anyway.

So....respond neutrally/pleasantly to her. When she makes one of her loud suggestions, say, "interesting idea" or "that's not a bad idea" or "thanks for the suggestion" or "I wondered about that, as well." Look neutrally contemplative. If she says something most people would consider provocative, maintain your game face as if you don't even possess the ability to take things personally.

If you spend time in the same vicinity and have the opportunity (without forcing it or appearing obvious) do some bridge-building -- pleasant general convo. Ask about her experiences as a manager. Find a couple of things to compliment (sincerely) regarding her former leadership in your unit. Etc., etc. Meanwhile, keep going about your way.

If you are steadfast in this approach, there's a good chance she will see that you don't intend to engage in a competition, and thus she will see there is no threat. She will see you aren't there to critique everything she did and that the goal of your life isn't to show her up.

You can win people over this way (or at the very least neutralize/limit their negative effect).

Good luck ~

(Don't let the insecurities of being in a new position lead to an overreaction here ?)