Training and Development Managers!

PUZZLED about where to find content for your learning program, portal or LMS?

Get 1000+ management and soft skills training resources for your staff from Mind Tools Corporate.

Find out more

Quick Tools

Now You're the Boss...

Learning how to manage former peers

Managing former peers.

Becoming a boss can change almost everything – and it can change nothing. Sure, you have more power. And you can influence your former peers in ways that you've never imagined before.

But you're still the same person, just with a bit more authority. Suddenly, though, the things you say have more importance, and your former teammates look to you for answers, not just ideas.

What do you do with this newly found power? It may be tempting to make the changes that you always wanted, order what you want to be done, and feel good about your new promotion. However, this type of behavior may not win you much respect or cooperation.

But you probably don't want to use the opposite approach either. A new boss who tries to remain "one of the guys" and an equal part of the team can end up frustrating everyone. When you're more concerned about relationships than results, poor decisions are usually inevitable. If you're afraid of being called "bossy," you may not hold people accountable, or you may avoid making unpopular decisions.

So, how do you manage the difficult learning curve of becoming a boss, and the delicate balance of leading former peers? There's no immediate or easy solution, and you won't be perfect. However, by understanding the challenges and keeping an open mind, you can develop new ways to relate to your team that are effective and produce results.