young boss

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hi

I'm a very young assistant manager for a popular grocery store in my area, this particular grocery store's labor force is mostly young adults and teenagers, who are in college or high school. Generally 16-20. I'm barely 18 and landed this job, I think to be an ambassador, or a person that can establish common ground between the middle-aged upper management and the highschoolers. Or maybe they just like me or something.

Anyway, I'm close work-friends with majority of people, and honestly don't give a shit if they do stuff they aren't supposed to be doing as long as it's victim less (ex, hiding drinks on a checkstand, talking to much when it's slow) but however if upper management notices this they will smite me and the people doing it. And obviously, I assign jobs, projects and assignments to kiddos when I need stuff done as well.

I'm not afraid of telling people to do shit, but I'm not quite sure how to go about doing it, I'm usually cool about it and they are usually cool about, "Hey man, we gotta take down this display and put this shit up, can you help me?". This works fine mostly and people always listen but I'm picking up a vibe that my friends aren't seeing me as a friend but as aboss now.

1. How do I stay respected and liked among friends that I am now the boss of?


and also, I'm literally half the age of many of the part time adults, maybe younger and it's not really a problem for them that I give them assignments, tell them what to do but I noticed a few people resent me in a sense of like, "why is this infant telling me what to do?"

2. How do I gain the respect of veteran employees that I am now the boss of?

help