Leading peers means you’ll sometimes lose a little popularity. Lose it for the right reasons.

Holding a standard among people who are also your friends costs something, and no technique removes that. The only question is what you are spending it on, since you can lose popularity for a good reason or lose it by being officious about things that did not matter. Choosing the hills carefully is most of the skill.

Choose the two or three things you are willing to be unpopular about, and let the rest go. Be relaxed everywhere else so the few are credible. Then accept the cost when it comes rather than negotiating with it.