Coaching Real Leaders How Do I Manage My Former Peers Now That I’m Their Boss?
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Nov 17, 2025 A newly promoted manager grapples with the complexities of leading former peers. He shares experiences of friction with longer-tenured colleagues and the struggle to balance accountability with rapport-building. Insights on adapting leadership styles reveal how different motivations require tailored approaches. They delve into interpreting feedback and the importance of maintaining professionalism while inviting personal connection. Practical strategies are shared for handling resistance and fostering a positive team environment, leaving the leader feeling more optimistic about his role.
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Quick Rise Put Him Over Former Peers
- Thomas described rapid promotions that put him in charge of former peers and two levels of supervisors.
- He found it jarring to shift from helper to decision-maker and faced resistance from longer-tenured staff.
Promotion Skills Don't Equal Management Skills
- What got you promoted isn't always the skillset you now need to manage people.
- Rapid promotion can expose gaps between individual contributor strengths and managerial demands.
Use A Dimmer, Not An On/Off Switch
- Try adopting a "dimmer" approach to tone instead of an all-or-nothing style when responding to pushback.
- Pause before replying to consider options like acknowledging, asking questions, or calling instead of terse texts.
