If you’re taking over as team leader, you need to have open and honest conversations about the change in dynamics. If you’ve previously enjoyed a friendly relationship and you’re transitioning from buddy to boss, or you’re filling someone else’s shoes, it’s time to show humility, honour the past, embrace an uncertain future, and accept feedback from your team.

This week, adaptive organisations consultant Jon Barnes rejoins the podcast. Jon helps organisations shift from rigid hierarchies or bureaucracies towards teams that manage themselves, promoting more autonomy. He’s a fan of working styles where individuals have more freedom but are also more accountable, and he focuses on helping groups collectively nurture the culture they want, together.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand how to handle the "buddy to boss" transition by establishing a new social contract with your team
• Explore ways to maintain mutual respect and equality in relationships, even when hierarchical structures are in place
• Learn specific techniques for scheduling, giving and receiving feedback, in order to shape a constructive leadership style

Episode highlights

• [00:07:42] The budy-to-boss problem
• [00:18:38] The perils of bringing in an outside team whisperer
• [00:30:29] Big shoes to fill
• [00:37:43] Jon's recommendation
• [00:39:42] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

Links

• Leave us a voice note
• Connect with Jon via LinkedIn
• The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World, by Mpho Tutu and Desmond Tutu