Leading Your Friends And Colleagues
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Leading your friends and colleagues

It’s is very challenging and complex situation when a person grows in the same organization as a leader and he/she has to lead the team – who are his/her collogues. Most of the time, it has been seen, new leaders fail to meet the goal and manage the team efficiently because former colleagues forget that you've been friends and become extremely uncooperative. It is up to the leader how best he/she can manage the situation and meet the desired goal. There are some areas; leader must do to tackle the situation.
Words work:
Either you should speak to each one of them personally or in a group, is your choice; however most importantly hear them out. Someone might be feeling jealous or think that they deserved that promotion instead. Delegate authority to make that person feel important. However while doing this keep the common goal in mind as also the capability of the person to complete the task.
Give time :
They have known you for long as collogue, but they have never known you as their leader. Though there are no ill feelings between you all; they will take time to adjust to you as the person in-charge. In fact, since you have already known your colleagues and have shared a rapport with them, the situation should be easier to handle.
Goals :
With new role and responsibilities, you and your team will have a number of goals to achieve. Moreover, as a leader you have to accomplish them no matter what. So, don't compromise on your vision under any circumstances - work along with your team to achieve them gracefully.
Friends forever :
Don't try to show your authority as a leader - equation between you and your friends can't change simply because you have moved to next hierarchy now. Share with them the same friendly relation that you did before your promotion.

As a leader, you have to keep friendship away from work. Be assertive and firm and learn to put your foot down when you have to. Implement rules and ways of working that all of you felt strongly about.
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