Being a manager can be tough, especially when you are accustomed to working with the colleagues you manage on an equal basis. Setting an agenda and motivating colleagues to accomplish the task is more complex than many people realize, according to Linda Hill, author of "Becoming a Manager: How New Managers Master the Challenges of Leadership." Once you're promoted to management, however, you can get things done while still maintaining a positive relationship with previous co-workers. Holding a meeting can be an easy task, providing you are organized and set the appropriate boundaries.

1.

Send a memo to your employees informing them of the meeting's time and where it will be held. Attach an agenda. Make the agenda as short as is feasible.

2.

Bring a sign-in sheet to the meeting. Ask your former co-workers to sign in indicating that they attended the meeting. In addition to providing documentation that employees attended the meeting, it sets a professional tone.

3.

Let your employees know how long you expect the meeting to last. Reassure them that you intend to stick to the agenda so that their work won't be disrupted by a lengthy meeting. Check the time periodically during the meeting to ensure you are meeting this goal.

4.

Announce the first topic on the agenda and provide the information that you need to about that topic in a concise manner. Do not ramble. Ask for your colleagues' feedback about the topic. Take notes as necessary or designate someone else as note-taker.

5.

Listen carefully to colleagues' ideas and concerns. When you consult employees, the result is that they feel ownership of the problem, according to Hill. If the meeting starts to get off-track, remind people that the goal is to stick to the agenda and get back to work.