When Your Friend Becomes Your Boss
Summary
- There was a person who got promoted and initially had a team of three people.
- Over time, the team grew to about 11 people.
- I noticed that the person was hesitant to make decisions and didn't want to upset anyone on the team.
- In a meeting, I clarified to the team that this person was no longer just a peer but also their boss.
- I explained that being a boss doesn't mean they can't still be a buddy; it just adds more responsibility.
- Clear instructions are crucial because if people don't know what to do, they may end up doing either everything or nothing.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing clear communication strategies to define roles within the team. A good way to start is by setting up a meeting where you openly discuss everyone's responsibilities. This will help your team understand who the decision-makers are and what is expected of each member.
Next, create simple, actionable instructions for daily and weekly tasks. This can be as simple as a checklist or a shared document outlining what needs to be done. Clear guidelines will prevent confusion and ensure that everyone knows what to focus on.
It's important to balance being a leader and a friend. You don't have to stop being friendly with your team, but you do need to establish boundaries and hold people accountable for their tasks. This ensures respect and clarity around your role as a leader.
Encourage open feedback within the team. Regular check-ins can provide an opportunity for team members to voice their concerns and for you to address any issues before they escalate. This will also help you become more comfortable with making decisions and enforcing rules.
Lastly, lead by example. Show your team the importance of both teamwork and individual responsibility by being transparent about your own tasks and decision-making process. This will inspire confidence and trust in your leadership.
Implement these steps to foster a balanced, productive, and motivated team.
Full Transcript
this person got promoted and then when they got promoted there were only three people on the team and then over time there became about 11 people on that team and what I noticed is I would go into meetings that person was afraid to make decisions afraid not to please everybody on the team and afraid to even just tell people what to do and so I got on a meeting with that person one day and I reframed their role to everybody there I said listen he is no longer just your buddy he's also your boss doesn't mean he can't be your buddy he's just also your boss so here's what's going to be different from here on forward and here's why we have to do it that way if people don't know what to do when you have a big team then people either do everything or nothing
