Meet the challenges of your new leadership role with confidence, self-assurance, and professionalism. Your competence, abilities, and hard work have finally paid off. Now you are the one in charge. People who were your peers are now your subordinates. You are forced to put friendships aside, favoritism and possibly even face disciplining employees who may have previously been friends. Additionally, you have to work hard to build trust, gain credibility and earn respect from both your superiors and your subordinates.