Becoming a leader is exciting but comes with challenges. You must build trust, earn respect, and set clear expectations. If you were promoted internally, shifting from peer to manager can be tricky. You’re no longer just a friend—you’re the one making tough calls.
Build Trust with Your Team and Stakeholders
Trust is the foundation of strong leadership. People follow leaders they believe in. Here’s how to build that trust:
- Be honest and transparent about your goals and decisions.
- Listen more than you speak. Understand your team’s concerns.
- Follow through on commitments. Reliability builds credibility.
- Encourage open communication and feedback.
Research shows leaders prioritising trust see stronger team performance and engagement (Brower et al., 2000).
Managing Internal Promotions: Shift Perceptions
If you’ve been promoted within your company, your relationships will change. Some colleagues may struggle with seeing you as a leader. Others may expect special treatment.
Here’s how to handle it:
- Define boundaries early. Be clear about your new role.
- Treat everyone fairly. Avoid favouritism.
- Communicate openly. Address any concerns head-on.
- Seek guidance from mentors or leadership groups.
The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins stresses the importance of setting expectations from day one. Taking control early prevents misunderstandings and resentment.
Leadership Can Feel Lonely—Here’s How to Cope
Leadership isn’t just about managing others. It also means making tough decisions that not everyone will like. This can feel isolating.
- Find a mentor who has been in your shoes.
- Build a support network outside of work.
- Set aside time for self-reflection and growth.
Heifetz and Linsky, in Leadership on the Line, advise stepping back to see the bigger picture. This helps leaders manage stress and avoid burnout.
Balance Relationships with Accountability
Strong leaders know how to support their teams while holding them accountable.
- Set clear expectations from the start.
- Give feedback regularly—both positive and constructive.
- Lead by example. Show the work ethic you expect from others.
- Recognize achievements. People work harder when they feel valued.
Kouzes and Posner in The Leadership Challenge emphasize that credibility comes from consistency. Your team watches what you do more than what you say.
Practical Takeaways
- Communicate clearly and often.
- Build trust through consistency.
- Establish professional boundaries.
- Seek mentorship and leadership networks.
- Balance approachability with authority.
Effective leadership isn’t about being liked—it’s about being respected. Set the tone early, stay true to your values, and lead with integrity.
Journeying:
Articles and Reading:
Article: Leadership Transitions and the First 90 Days
Forbes Article: Why It’s Hard To Transition From Doing To Leading
McKinnsey Article: New leadership for a new era of thriving organizations
Article: Leadership Transitions: The Key To Organisational Success
Article: Developing leaders by supporting their transitions into senior positions
Videos:
It’s Lonely At the Top: Turn Loneliness into Leadership That Matters
Short and Snappy Video on Building Trust
References
- Image Credit: PixelPop
- Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational Leadership. Psychology Press.
- Brower, H. H., Schoorman, F. D., & Tan, H. H. (2000). A model of relational leadership: The integration of trust and leader-member exchange. The Leadership Quarterly, 11(2), 227-250.
- Dirks, K. T., & Ferrin, D. L. (2002). Trust in leadership: Meta-analytic findings and implications for research and practice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(4), 611.
- Gabarro, J. J. (1987). The Dynamics of Taking Charge. Harvard Business School Press.
- Heifetz, R. A., & Linsky, M. (2002). Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
- Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Sage Publications.
- Senge, P. M. (2006). The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization. Crown Publishing.
- Watkins, M. (2013). The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels. Harvard Business Review Press.
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