Has Your Friend Become Your Boss?

Change affects the dynamics of any relationship, especially when a peer gets into a position of authority. Neeti Jaychander tells you how to cope with grace.

- Neeti Jaychander

She’s your best friend at work and you’ve both been each other’s support system. But a sudden promotion can change all that. A friend suddenly turning into a boss can take some getting used to. While you might be happy for them, the green-eyed monster can sometimes rear its ugly head, and you are bound to have thoughts of ‘Why him/her, why not me?’. This is natural so don’t be too hard on yourself. With some mental calibration and by setting the right boundaries, you can both ace this new switch in roles, too.

ACCEPT IT

There’s no getting around this. Remember, whatever decisions have been taken are likely in the best interests of the company and the team in the long run, and you need to respect that. Manjula MK, a psychologist, says, “A lot of people might find it hard to take instructions from someone who was their equal, and go on to have issues with this new change in hierarchy. Also, there is always the underlying feeling of competition no matter how close you are, especially if you’re both equally ambitious. Set these feelings aside, as they serve no purpose. Instead focus on working towards making the new relationship fruitful.”

RESPECT BOUNDARIES