Tension in the Middle (part 3 of 3)

It’s not enough to merely recognize that leading from somewhere in the middle of an organization can be stressful. It’s not good enough to simply survive. You want to thrive. Here are five suggestions for relieving the tension of managing from the middle: 1. Become Comfortable with the Middle We often think leadership is easier at the top. The reality is that it is actually easier to lead from the middle – if a really good leader is above you. Being in the middle can be a great place – as long as you have bought into the vision and believe in the leader. Good leaders at the top break ground for their people. They create momentum for the entire organization. You benefit from everything they do. So why not enjoy it (assuming you have a good leader over you), and learn from them too. 2. Know What to “Own” & What to Let Go Noting frees a person like clear lines of responsibility. So how do you get comfortable in the middle? Comfort is a function of expectations. The wider the gap between what you imagine to be and reality, the more disappointed you are likely to be. One of the best things you can do is to ask what is expected of you, and then maintain a dialogue concerning expectations with the people to whom you answer. 3. Find Quick Access to Answers When Caught in the Middle I can think of few people who get caught in the middle more than Executive Assistants. They experience tension to a high degree every day. The people they interact with are typically very demanding. And so is their boss. One of the best ways they can be helped is to get information to them as quickly as possible. Everybody needs to find a way to get quick answers when they are caught in the middle. Sometimes that can be very difficult, especially if you work for a person who is not very communicative. In such cases, you need to find others who can help you. 4. Never Violate Your Position or the Trust of Your Leader If you want to know what will increase tension to the breaking point, it’s violating the trust that’s given to you with your authority of position. That can mean abusing the power of your position, intentionally undermining your leader, or using the organization’s resources for personal gain. It has been said, “Trust is built one block at a time, but when it is violated, the entire wall comes crashing down.” As someone leading from the middle of the organization, your ability to sustain the authority invested in you is entirely dependent upon your faithfulness in serving the people who gave you that authority. 5. Find a Way to Relieve Stress You will never completely eliminate the stress, so you need to find a way to relieve it. One suggestion: Develop a file called, “Things I will Never do to My Team When I am the Top Leader.” You can short-circuit the temptation to let off steam with your co-workers by writing down your observations and putting them in a file. That may work for you, and it may not. If not, find something else: hit golf balls, jog, take up kickboxing, do aerobics, go for long walks, get a massage, etc. Leading from the middle of an organization is stressful, but so is being the top leader. The key to succeeding is to learn to deal with the tension of whatever position you are in, to overcome its obstacles, and make the most of its advantages and opportunities. If you do that, you can succeed from anywhere in the organization. How are you doing dealing with the tension? Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/