The Sticky Middle – Part 1

From Peer to Leader: Shifting Your Thinking  

In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Oli Sanandres respond to a classic sticky career moment from a listener taking their first steps into people leadership:  

“Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position—without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.”  

Oli brings thoughtful insights from a varied career across local government, aviation, Amazon, and the military, where he went from rifleman to officer. Together, the team explore what it really takes to think like a leader before you start acting like one.  

Spoiler: This isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about stepping into a new mental model, letting go of old success markers, and learning how to lead without losing yourself.  

Key Topics Covered:
• Why leadership is about thinking, not just doing
• The mindset shift from personal delivery to enabling others
• How to stay authentic (and humble) as you move from peer to leader
• Letting go of your “hero cape” and redefining what success looks like
• The importance of time to think and why it’s not a luxury
• The awkward art of managing former peers (without becoming a stranger)
• What the military taught Oli about influence, optics and staying grounded
• Leadership as a system: managing up, down, and across
• Paying it forward and using your role to grow others
• Sitting in discomfort and trusting others to solve problems their way 

Resources to Explore:
• Episode 2 – Am I Enough? – for anyone struggling with imposter feelings
• Leadership Development Tip: Audit how you spend your time – are you thinking or just doing?
• Reframing Question: What do I need to let go of to lead well?
• Coaching Prompt: What kind of leader do I want to be and why? 

We’d Love Your Feedback!
Stepping into leadership? Navigating your own sticky middle?
Email us at [email protected] or tag us on socials.

We’d love to hear what resonated and what you’re still wrestling with. 

Next Episode: The Sticky Middle – Part 2
We’ve done the mindset shift – next, we move into action. In Episode 7, we bring Oli back to explore how to lead with clarity, care, and confidence.
 
How do you set expectations, have tough conversations, and take people with you?

Join us as we turn the thinking into doing.