Turn the Corner: Lead the Team as a Manager, Not a Peer

New manager podcast on turning the corner from peer to manager and leading your team with confidence. Practical first time manager tips on managing former peers, avoiding new manager mistakes, and building real leadership skills fast. Learn exactly how to lead your team, earn respect as a manager, and set healthy boundaries in your first 30 days. What You'll Learn: • How to successfully transition from peer to manager by resetting expectations and relationships without damaging trust • A simple 30-day behavioral plan to go from “one of the team” to a respected leader with clear authority • Concrete ways to set boundaries as a manager while still being approachable and supportive • How to lead former peers, including what to say in your first 1:1 conversations and team meeting • New manager mistakes to avoid in your first weeks—especially around favoritism, over-friendliness, and indecision • Daily communication habits that signal leadership: clarity, follow-through, and visible decision-making • How to earn respect as a manager through fairness, consistency, and owning tough calls • A quick reflection framework to capture key insights, pick one focus area, and take one small action this week About the Guest: Episode Content: 00:00 - Introduction: Why the peer-to-manager transition feels so awkward (and why it matters) 04:12 - The mindset shift: From “teammate” to “owner of the environment” 09:30 - Managing former peers: Resetting expectations and having the hard first conversations 16:45 - New manager mistakes to avoid in the first 30 days 23:10 - Building your 30-day leadership behavior plan (communication, decisions, boundaries) 31:05 - How to earn respect as a manager without acting like a dictator 37:40 - Practical scripts for setting boundaries as a manager 44:20 - Reflection exercise: Capture key insights, choose one area, take one tiny action this week 51:00 - Final recap and next steps Full Description: Making the jump from peer to manager can feel like stepping onto a tightrope—especially when you’re managing former peers who used to be your lunch buddies, venting partners, or project teammates. This episode of our new manager podcast is your practical, research-backed guide to turning that corner and leading the team as a manager, not a peer. Drawing on findings from organizational psychology and real-world leadership practice, we break down exactly how to reset relational boundaries, signal your new authority, and build daily habits that reinforce your leadership identity. You’ll learn why early managerial behaviors—far more than your job title—shape how your team sees you, trusts you, and follows your lead. We walk through a focused 30-day transition plan designed for first time managers: how to set clear expectations, communicate consistently, and make visible decisions that build credibility and align your team. You’ll hear specific examples, helpful analogies, and corrections to common misconceptions that trip up many new leaders. You’ll also get: • Concrete language you can use in one-on-ones and team meetings to explain your new role without being awkward • Guidance on managing former peers fairly—avoiding both favoritism and over-correction • Practical ways to set boundaries as a manager so you’re no longer “one of the gang,” but also not cold or distant • Tools to avoid the most common new manager mistakes, from saying yes to everything to dodging tough calls To lock in the learning, we’ll guide you through three simple action steps at the end of the episode: 1) Take a few minutes to write down the key points about how to turn the corner from peer to manager—because what you write down, you remember and use. 2) Identify one very specific area where this applies to your situation right now (a relationship, a decision, a boundary, or a communication habit). 3) Commit to one small action this week—no matter how tiny—to start living as the leader you’ve just become. If you’ve recently been promoted, are about to become a first time manager, or are still struggling to fully step into leadership with your current team, this episode will give you a clear, confidence-building roadmap for your transition to leadership.

What You'll Learn:

• How to successfully transition from peer to manager by resetting expectations and relationships without damaging trust
• A simple 30-day behavioral plan to go from “one of the team” to a respected leader with clear authority
• Concrete ways to set boundaries as a manager while still being approachable and supportive
• How to lead former peers, including what to say in your first 1:1 conversations and team meeting
• New manager mistakes to avoid in your first weeks—especially around favoritism, over-friendliness, and indecision
• Daily communication habits that signal leadership: clarity, follow-through, and visible decision-making
• How to earn respect as a manager through fairness, consistency, and owning tough calls
• A quick reflection framework to capture key insights, pick one focus area, and take one small action this week