How do you manage someone who used to be your peer?
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What's Really Going On: You've been promoted over a friend. What's going on for them?
They're unsure whether the friendship or the role comes first. The relationship just changed and nobody has named it. Source: Wikipedia – Management
What To Do: What should you do?
Name the change directly in a 1:1 and agree how you'll work. An honest talk early prevents awkward guessing later. Source: HBR – What to Do First When Managing Former Peers (2015)
Why It Works: Why does it work?
Clear expectations reduce ambiguity for both. Ambiguity about roles breeds tension; naming it removes it. Source: Wikipedia – Role conflict