We know it needs to be done. But leading from the middle isn’t as simple as waking up one morning and deciding to take charge.
Many mid-level professionals hold back from leading others because they feel they don’t have the authority to do it. Or they worry that they might not have the right skills for leadership. They wonder how to get started – and how to avoid getting completely overwhelmed.
Of course, traditional leadership qualities such as great communication, being able to inspire, strategic thinking, prioritising and decision making are essential. But to lead from the middle, and to lead with success needs a bit more.
Here are the 5 key insights mid-level managers need before they can lead with success:
1. Modern leaders need followers. Gone are days when bosses at the top demanded that their will should be done – and it actually happened. Modern workforces are far too diverse, complex, dynamic and interdependent for the classical command and control approach to work – as the failures of many traditional businesses show. To be effective, modern leaders need to attract followers who in turn start leading, too – and that is especially important when you’re leading from the middle.
2. To attract followers, you need to create change. Just having a good idea or knowing what needs to be done isn’t enough to gain your support. Even logical arguments are not enough. To win support and gain followers you need the right strategy that targets the right people for your goals.
3. Strategies that attract and retain followers must provide clarity, intrinsic motivation and practical approaches to deal with obstacles, even those that appear outside of your control. People are amazingly creative, so there is always a way to reduce the impact of obstacles.
4. Don’t hide behind the belief that people hate change. People actively seek change every time they go on holiday, move house or start a family. People only hate change that is imposed on them, where they don’t have any input!
5. Successful leaders take actions. Really successful leaders take smart steps – and they make them fast. Smart steps are the ones that let you test an assumption, quickly, cheaply, with minimal risks – and then learn from the results. If the assumption was right: great – take the next smart step. If it was not – great, you gained an important insight. Use it for the next smart step!
How to start putting this into action? Try the free “Three Steps to Start Leading with Success” workbook and get started NOW.
Inside you will find:
- How to pinpoint your priority focus and know that you’re on the right track before you even start.
- The steps to take to find the perfect balance of where you should invest your time and effort to get maximum benefits.
- What to focus on that helps you stay on track when faced with lots of conflicting demands on your time and attention.
- Where to get backing from unexpected quarters and build a loyal bank of senior and junior supporters
Get the workbook here: “Three Steps to Start Leading with Success”
