If you’ve ever been the middle child – or raised one – you’ll know it’s not an easy spot. You’re not the trailblazer setting the pace or the carefree youngest enjoying the ride. You’re the one keeping the peace. Translating, negotiating, balancing. You know how to keep things moving, often without taking centre stage.
That’s the work of a middle manager.
Sitting between strategy and execution, they translate direction into action, balance people and performance, and hold culture steady while everything around them shifts. It’s leadership from the middle – and it’s where some of the most deliberate work happens.
The Challenge of the Middle
Being in the middle isn’t for the faint-hearted.
You’re responsible for delivering results, supporting your team, and managing upwards – often with limited time, context, or authority.
You’re navigating:
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Competing priorities and shifting expectations
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Change fatigue – being expected to lead through it, again
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The emotional load of supporting others while carrying your own
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Feeling invisible – accountable for much, recognised for little
It’s easy to lose confidence or energy in that tension. But the truth is, the middle is also where leadership is most visible – and most needed.
The Opportunity of the Middle
Middle managers are the culture carriers. They turn strategy into reality and values into behaviour. They build trust, connection, and clarity.
When they lead deliberately – choosing curiosity over control, calm over chaos, and purpose over pressure – they become the steady centre that holds the system together.
If You’re a Middle Manager
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Focus on what you can control: relationships, clarity, and your presence
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Build networks – sideways, not just up or down
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Ask for feedback in both directions; leadership is relational
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Protect time to reflect and reset your energy – it’s your greatest leadership tool
If You Lead Middle Managers
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Share context and purpose, not just direction
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Recognise the invisible work they do to hold teams steady
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Ask what support they need – and really listen
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Develop them, not just depend on them
Middle management isn’t a layer to be flattened – it’s a lever for impact.
When leaders in the middle are supported to lead deliberately, they become the bridge that connects strategy with people – and that’s where real performance lives.
🌟 In 2026, we’re continuing to support leaders in the middle through The Deliberate Leader program.
If you’re ready to strengthen your leadership from the centre – or support those who do – you can learn more here: The Deliberate Leader Program
