Making the Peer to Boss Transition

Accept that things are going to change. Your role as a boss may affect friendships on your team. You are now accountable not only for you, but also for those on your team. Your perspectives of other leaders, processes, and the company may change as well. This is normal.

A separate but key transition is understanding your new role. You should:

• Understand what is now expected of you as a leader
• Get to know the individuals that you lead
• Understand the expectations of you from your new boss

As a new leader, you are tested, both intentionally and unintentionally, by those who work with you. One of the ways you can manage this testing is to set expectations. Set the norms of your team and what you expect of them. This should be done both in a group setting as well as in a one-on-one setting.

As a new leader, your communication style with peers, your manager, vendors, contractors, direct reports, etc. might be different. Work to adjust your communication style to fit the needs of your audience. It is also important to remember that communication is a two-way street.

Consider:

• What are others trying to tell you?
• Is their communication different now that you are a supervisor?
• How well are you actively listening?

Next, think through your communication. This is the message you send to others. You may have to change your tone or assertiveness based on the audience and the situation.