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In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum (perhaps a friendly one). If you aren't serious, it's just an idle threat.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.

In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

One definition of ultimatum is "a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations."

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... then I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum (perhaps a friendly one). If you aren't serious, it's just an idle threat.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.

In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum. If you aren't serious, it's just an idle threat.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.

In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum (perhaps a friendly one). If you aren't serious, it's just an idle threat.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.

In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.

In short, I am already looking for another job but would stop once they said they would move me.

I don't want to give my boss an ultimatum, but how can I friendly say "If this doesn't change, I am going to be leaving soon"?

There's no way to deliver an "If you don't... I am going to leave" message that isn't an ultimatum. If you are serious, it is indeed an ultimatum. If you aren't serious, it's just an idle threat.

You already asked for a transfer to a different team, and were told that it was in the works, but not imminent. If you can't wait, then you are right to seek another job.

If you really think they don't understand the depth of your concern, and believe that your boss might hasten your transfer if he knew, then you need to be clearer in your communication. You could up the ante by saying something like "I understand this transfer will happen eventually. But this is really important to me, and I don't think I can wait that long." This is still a subtle ultimatum.

Only you can decide if your boss will be amenable to further discussion, if you can wait until the promised transfer happens, or if this is a lost cause.

For me, I wouldn't threaten to quit until I already had an offer in hand. Your mileage may vary.