The Peer to Manager Transition - A Lead Boldly™ Webinar

Consider this scenario: Two peers have worked together for several years. During that time, they’ve grown from colleagues to confidants. In fact, they consider each other their “work bestie.” They’ve griped about deadlines together. Celebrated successes and milestones together. Complained about other coworkers together. Been exasperated about unrealistic expectations together. Most days, each realizes they couldn't do this job were it not for the close professional relationship they’ve developed. 

Then, a job higher up the food chain within their organization opens up. It would be a clear promotion over their current roles, bringing with it more responsibility, leadership and opportunity for growth. They both compete for the role, and one is selected. 

Just like that, one of them has gone from being a colleague to a leader. 

From a peer to a supervisor. 

From a bestie to a boss. 

Throughout that process, organizational leadership failed to take any action or appreciate the nuance of this relationship. As a result, the new supervisor is left with unrealistic expectations of how the rejected employee will respond. It also leaves the employee not selected silenced. No one provides coaching or guidance on how to have the uncomfortable conversation with their former peer before they take on the role, or how to manage that relationship once they start the position. No one tells either person or the rest of the team what to expect or provides them with skills to navigate the emotional issues. 

What do they do when, instead of griping about deadlines together, they’re now the one setting them for their former peer? And everyone else who used to be their peer? After all, they didn’t just get a new title; you got a new relationship with everyone around you. 

Navigating the path from peer to superior isn’t easy, but doing it successfully is critical to the health of your team and organization. And doing it successfully is what I focus on in “Navigating the Transition from Peer to Manager,” an upcoming webinar focused on that group of people or those who may be applying for a job that would make them the direct supervisor of former peers and friends. 

I was inspired to create it because of the countless leaders and their employees I’ve encountered over the past five-plus years that have expressed stress and challenges around moving from a peer to supervisor in the same team. What they thought would be simple, was anything but. Where they thought they’d find support, they didn’t. Where they thought their relationships would stay the same, they certainly did not. And where they thought they’d receive guidance and training, they were left to figure it out on their own.

This webinar is designed to make sure they don’t go through this transition alone. Over the course of 75 minutes, I will take participants through a guided, in-depth examination of their new reality, as well as the steps and processes they can implement to create trust, transparency and empathy among their team. I will also leave plenty of time to answer the questions most relevant and important to them, of course. 

You can learn more and register here.