There are several solid leadership chats and discussions that happen through social media. Tuesday nights, there are two tweet chats that bring people together — #leadershipchat and #leadfromwithin.
Earlier this week, I participated in both. It was leadership conversations in stereo, streaming continuously in 140 characters! Perseverance was the topic in one, and next generation CEOs was the topic in the other. Coming out of this was a thought that stuck with me afterwards. You can see my tweet (@ThinDifference) below, but it was about leading from the middle.
Lead from the middle. It is the new, new principle of leadership. Think of middle children – they are usually the ones who bring siblings together, managing relationships diplomatically an
d effectively. Think of middle states (i.e., the Midwest) – farmers, small towns, and expansive prairies that instill grounded, simple values of what is possible. Think of the middle of an Oreo cookie – it is what holds things together and brings out the flavor in base ingredients. The middle is full of value!
Here are the key 9 principles of leading from the middle:
- Direct Debates: It is about facilitating open and honest discussions, putting reality on the table and actively working through it. It is about getting candid advice, absorbing it, and then acting on it. It is not malicious or spiteful, but it is spirited and critical to get the best information and counsel possible.
- Mindful Listening: It is about zipping it and tuning in fully to really understand what customers, employees, and partners are saying about your products or services. It is listening with your ears, eyes, and open mind, meaning complete attention to their successes and suggestions.
- Team Flexibility: It is about setting clear goals and then organizing around them. People will not work in silos, necessarily, but will be brought together based on their strengths that will enhance the opportunity for mission success.
- Accountably Free: It is about giving people the freedom to innovate, create, and make things happen, aligned with the organization’s strategy, goals, objectives, and values. Along with the freedom to perform is the accountability to do the right things. It is not wishy-washy accountability; it is real, measurable accountability.
- Valuably Fail: It is about thinking and doing creatively, acknowledging risk is part of the formula. In failing, if it happens, it shifts to learning and getting better from the experiences and diligent work.
- Relentless Learning: It is about spending time exploring, reading, and attending workshops, classes and conferences that enable our minds to expand and our eyes to open to how we can be better and do better. It is about having conversations with others – team members and mentors – to gain their perspectives, insights, and knowledge.
- 100% Real Action: It is about making decisions. It is about getting in the middle of the action when necessary to challenge, nudge, celebrate, and spur on teams and initiatives. It is not ceremonial lip service; it is real conversations, genuine acts.
- Soul Full: It is about leading from within – thank you, @LollyDaskal! It is about having values and living them in our actions. It is about tapping our inner spirit to show strength of character in all that we do. It is about being a real, soulful person.
- Crux: It is about being in the middle of it, not directing, not dictating, and not doing it all. It is about creating leverage points, catapulting initiatives ahead and building people up in what they do and how they do it. It is about bringing people, actions, values, direction, and results all together to move forward!
Leading from the middle is what leaders need to do today. It is the future of being a leader.
What middle principles would you add to being a new, new leader?
I love the concept! I think you have hit a great path. My comment would be that to be able to lead from the middle, leaders need to know how to lead through conversations. They need to understand and leverage the power of dialogue. I’m writing a book about this because I think it’s so important for the new way of leading.
Great addition, Dr. Ada! I agree. Conversations are vital, as they facilitate better people relationships and moving initiatives forward. Thank you for adding to the conversation! Jon
I agree, Jon. I would also add that the ability to successfully lead through difficult conversations is a key skill – one that needs a lot of scaffolding and practice! Powerful dialogue and the skill to maintain relationship even through adversity and conflict is vital for any leader who wants to affect change! I like that you tagged your post with “character” as I think that character and integrity give us the platform to engage in challenging dialogue.
A key addition, Jon. Leading through difficult conversation is an important skill and a challenging one. However, to lead from the middle effectively, navigating critical conversations is a must. Thank you for adding your insight and perspective! Jon
Love this! All of these are challenging in some way, aren’t they? Sticking to our values, being fully present, not jumping in to just do it because we are the only ones who can “do it right” and steady learning take time, patience and energy. But when done, benefit the organization in ways too numerous to mention. I agree with Karl about balance. Leading is like walking on a tightrope, treading gingerly through all of principles you mention above.
Thanks, Rebecca! They are challenging yet necessary to embrace. Keep your balance; keep leading steadily! Jon
Sounds to me like a collaborative collective, where the leader recognizes the value of others and gets them in the thick of it and is neither command and control, nor too weak to lead. Good call.
Martin, I think you are right! A renewed model of leading… Thanks for your comment! Jon
Leading from the middle requires what many people lack… balance. In so many situations, people pendulum to one extreme or the other. Balance is always a challenge because you can be shot at from both sides, choosing a wall is always the easy way, as you can just shoot at everyone in one direction, but in the end, leading from the middle involves everyone and leads to success.
Karl, I really like your comment! Balance is key, and it is challenging to do — maintaining principles and two sides while moving initiatives forward. I do believe that is why principles 8 and 9 are essential. Leaders have to have those inner values and then know when and how to create those leverage posts. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Enjoyed your insghts. Thank you! Jon
Great post! When I first saw your title I thought your article would be about the role of middle management. Leaders positioning themselves in the “middle” is entirely different and spot on in terms of the perspective leaders need to come from if they want to lead dynamic, collaborative, innovative organizations of the future.
Thanks for your comment and support, Susan! Although the target was not necessarily middle managers, the 9 principles apply to all leaders no matter where in the organization they may be. Appreciate your work and insights. Thanks! Jon