🌱 From Peer to Leader: Navigating the Transition Path

A 2 min read.

Last week, I coached someone who just moved up from team member to leader at their restaurant. Maybe you've been there too—trying to be the boss to people who were just your coworkers.

Having a hard time with this leadership stuff? My coaching can help you feel more confident in your new role. Book a 30 min call and let's talk about working together.

My client was worried about keeping good relationships while also being taken seriously as a leader. I see this a lot! Many new leaders avoid conflict and do all the work themselves instead of asking others to help.

During our session, we had a big "aha moment": Giving work to your team isn't being mean, it's giving them chances to grow. When you think, "I don't want to burden them" and do it all yourself, you're actually stopping them from learning new skills.

We found that my client was a people-pleaser (like many in restaurants). But here's the thing: avoiding tough talks now creates bigger problems later. When you don't address issues right away, they get worse, people get confused, and feelings get hurt.

We practiced some simple ways to bring up problems: "I noticed this happening, and I'm worried about how it affects the team. Can we talk about a better way?"

We also made a list of people who can give good advice when things get tough. The best supporters aren't just friends who agree with everything, they're honest people who help you grow.

Then we created a simple 90-day plan:

• First month: Get to know your team better and watch how things work

• Second month: Fix the obvious problems and get some quick wins

• Third month: Connect daily work to the bigger picture and set up ways to measure success

This plan gives new leaders permission to learn before making big changes.

What I've learned from all my clients is that leadership isn't about doing everything yourself, it's about helping others grow while keeping good relationships.

Want to become a better leader? My coaching is made just for restaurant leaders like you. Click here to book your free call or reply with "LEADERSHIP" in the subject line.

Christin

P.S. Know another restaurant leader who's struggling? Please share this email with them. Together, we can build stronger restaurant teams everywhere.