Earning the respect of your team from day one sets the tone for how you’ll lead and how the group will perform together. When direct reports are also former peers, respect comes from building trust and showing that you’re invested in their success—not by asserting authority. Done well, this transition can create momentum that carries the team forward under your leadership.
To help leaders step into their new roles, Fast Company Executive Board members share proven strategies for earning respect from peers.These practical steps can help you establish credibility, raise morale, and drive the team to achieve more.
1. DEFINE YOUR LEADERSHIP CHAPTER
Pause to solidify this as your next career chapter, not a continuation of your old role. Start by clarifying your leadership brand and story. Share highlights that your team may not know about you. Define what excellence and a high-performing team mean to you, then engage your team to shape that vision. Setting expectations together helps to build respect and establish yourself as their leader. – Bonnie Davis, HuWork
2. CONTINUE TO LEARN
Be focused on learning the job and understanding the team’s details, processes, and pain points. Be honest, and ask for help if you lack knowledge. You need to walk in their shoes for some time before the team turns around and respects you. – Ruchir Nath, Dell Technologies
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3. DO THE WORK DAILY
Getting a leadership role isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of reestablishing relationship dynamics and thoughtfully innovating new concepts and technology, all while maintaining the original vision of the company and its founders. It’s work to ensure your passion reaches all levels of the company, which naturally gains you the respect of those inspired by your commitment. – Larry Brinker Jr., BRINKER
4. ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES
Transitioning from peer to leader requires setting new boundaries. What was once a peer relationship now includes authority, balancing being approachable and being “the boss.” You want to preserve the strong relationships you’ve built, but you also need to establish clear expectations and accountability. It’s about leading with empathy while ensuring the team understands where the lines are. – Irina Soriano, Seismic
5. SHOW INTEREST IN TEAM MEMBERS
Start by listening to your peers and understanding what they do well. Treat them with respect and ask for their ideas. Share your goals clearly and be fair and honest. When you show that you care about them and their success, they will respect you as a leader. – Chris Dyer, Leadership Speaker
6. LISTEN AND OBSERVE FIRST
Earn respect in a new leadership role by first listening and observing before making changes. Acknowledge your peers’ expertise, involve them in decisions, and give credit for their contributions. Communicate openly, set clear expectations, and lead by example. Showing consistency, fairness, and humility builds trust over time. – Maria Alonso, Fortune 206
7. BELIEVE IN YOUR PEOPLE
I learned leadership the hard way by micromanaging and burning people out. It took a near mutiny to see what true leadership is. Believe in your people. Share a clear vision. Support them. When an employee’s paycheck came up short due to an accounting mistake, I offered to cover it myself. Leadership isn’t about a title; it’s about earning respect. – Louis Camassa, Rithum
8. LEAD WITH HUMILITY
Step into the role with humility, acknowledging the change, and build trust and credibility through consistent actions. Focus less on managing and more on adding value—help your team solve problems, align on priorities, and grow. Respect is earned by showing up, listening, and creating an environment where people thrive. – Jani Hirvonen, Google
9. BALANCE CONFIDENCE WITH RESPECT
Stepping into a leadership role with former peers means balancing confidence with humility. Show respect for the experience they bring, listen before making changes, and be clear about expectations. Trust is earned by following through on what you say and demonstrating that you’re there to help the team succeed, not just to hold the title. – Nicholas Wyman, IWSI America
10. BE A MODEL FOR YOUR TEAM
Lead by example and remember, actions speak louder than words. Show up prepared, follow through on commitments, and demonstrate the work ethic and accountability you expect from the team. Be willing to roll up your sleeves, listen to your team’s input, and give credit where it’s due. Over time, consistent behavior like this builds trust, earns respect, and turns peers into strong collaborators. – Toni Pisano, PortPro Technologies, Inc.
11. TACKLE THE TOUGH PROJECTS
Take on the project that no one wants and hit it out of the park. Leadership isn’t glamorous. It is hard work. Demonstrate your ability to execute and others will take notice. – Chaun Powell, Elevate by Principal
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12. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PATIENCE
Listen more than you speak, keep an open mind, and invest in relationships—especially with your new peer set. Be clear about your vision and expectations, but be patient with yourself and others. It may feel awkward at first; trust is earned through consistency and respect. – Jessica Shapiro, LiveRamp
13. DEMONSTRATE INITIATIVE THROUGH ACTION
Leadership should come as self-initiative—the word itself stems from “to go before” or “to guide.” Earning respect in a new role starts with action: listening intently, delivering on promises, and showing you’re willing to work alongside the team, not just above it. When people see consistency, humility, and accountability, authority becomes earned, not just given. – Goran Paun, ArtVersion
14. SEEK INPUT TO BUILD UNITY
The best way to earn respect from your peers reporting to you is to work with them and ask for their opinion on improving things, whether it’s a product, sales, or office culture. Peers can have a tough time reporting to someone who is at their same level because they wonder why you got the leadership job. A big part of leadership is bringing a team together. – Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
15. CREATE VALUE THROUGH CONSISTENCY
Don’t indulge in nostalgia for past camaraderie. Instead of seeking approval, concentrate on demonstrating your value through actions and helping others create value. Also, foster a team culture of balanced accountability, covering performance and results, and positive and corrective feedback. Respect is built through positive, consistent behavior and value creation over time. – Shawn Galloway, ProAct Safety, Inc.
16. PROVE YOUR COMPETENCE
Respect often follows demonstrated competence. Rather than changing dynamics overnight, show mastery of the work itself. Prove you understand the metrics, can anticipate the challenges, and can be the person who brings clarity when things get complex. When peers-turned-direct-reports see you consistently adding value and solving problems, your authority will shift from formal to earned. – Volen Vulkov, Enhancv
17. COLLABORATE TO BUILD TRUST
Acknowledge the shift openly, show respect for their expertise, and listen before making changes. Lead by example, be consistent, and involve them in decisions. This builds trust through collaboration rather than authority alone. – Gianluca Ferruggia, DesignRush
18. MAKE EMPLOYEES FEEL HEARD
The transition from colleague to boss can be tough. A new leader’s best strategy is to learn to really listen. Employees need to feel heard before they will respect or support leadership initiatives. Once they know you value their insights, they’re more likely to become an ally in your efforts to improve the team’s environment and performance. – Christina Robbins, Digitech Systems