How to make managing former peers easier (The Sit-Down in action)

You got promoted. Your closest work friend is now your direct report. And what felt like it would be easy is now the most uncomfortable relationship in your professional life. This episode is for you. Lia shares her own worst management experience -- managing someone who was her best friend at work -- and the 30-minute conversation she wishes she'd had from day one.
In this episode you will learn:
Why managing someone you already know tends to go wrong faster than managing a stranger
The assumption that skips the most important conversation -- and how to have it even when you're already in the mess
The Sit Down: a 30-minute, three-step framework for turning around even the most difficult working relationship
What to say first (most leaders get this backwards)
How the same conversation keeps your best people before they send you a resignation email
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Friendships in Management
05:45 Taking Responsibility in Leadership
11:51 Proactive Conversations for Team Retention
Resources mentioned:
Free guide -- 5 Conversations We're Avoiding (with word-for-word scripts): liagarvin.com/convo
DM "convo" on Instagram to receive the guide
Download my FREE guide to making hard conversations with your team easier at liagarvin.com/convo
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Get all the details at: www.liagarvin.com
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© 2026 Lia Garvin / Managing Made Simple