The Lateral Challenge: Why leading your peers is harder than leading your team

Working with your peers can be one of the hardest parts of leadership. You may have no authority over them, yet you still need their support to get things done and sometimes you're competing with those same people for promotions, resources, or influence.In today’s episode, Stacey and Cade explore why leading sideways requires a different skill set than leading up or down. They unpack the tension between cooperation and competition, why being competent isn't always enough to earn a peer's support, and how likability, reciprocity, and trust shape our ability to influence without authority.Key takeaways:Peer relationships are both cooperative and competitive.Being good to work with can matter more than being the most competent.Build reciprocity before you need something from a peer.Address tension through direct and honest communication.Chapters00:01 — Why leading your peers is so difficult05:16 — When cooperation and competition collide12:51 — Competent jerks and lovable fools18:21 — The power of reciprocityTo learn more about us and the podcast, visit youmighttrythis.com and check us out on social media @youmighttrythis