The Journey Toward Realization

I’ve been researching leadership for many years, in part, because I wanted to be a good leader myself. Being a good leader can mean different things to different people. For me, being a good leader means first, being a positive force in the organization in which I serve. Second, being a good leader means having a positive impact on people’s lives and in a broader sense, on the world.

In my search for information to help me be a better leader, I came across plenty of three-step processes, quick-fix solutions, and here’s-how-I-did-it-and-so-can-you books. Honestly, they weren’t much help. At first I thought it was me; then I realized that much of the leadership literature is written for someone who leads at the top of an organization—I lead in the middle. Leading in the middle is a whole different matter.

Looking at leadership through a different Lens

When I began serving in a middle leadership role in my denomination’s missions sending organization, my perspective on leadership morphed. When I was a pastor, I was the leader. Now, I am one of many leaders who serve in the middle.

Leading in the middle of an organization is different from leading at the top. Leading in the middle calls for a unique application of leadership principles. A middle leader can’t just read the leadership books, take the information at face value and make direct application. A middle leader must process the information through the lens of middle leadership.

Let me give you an example. A common topic in leadership books, blogs, and leadership development best-sellers is the topic of vision. Here’s a quote from Jack Welch, former Chairman of General Electric.

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” ―Jack Welch

This is an excellent quote. Its principles and activities are essential to leadership—at the top. But applying the principles and activities in this quote while leading in the middle is a different story. A middle leader who tries to create, articulate, own and relentlessly drive vision to completion is going have problems.

The Challenge of Middle Leadership

I have concluded that the great challenge of middle leadership is not only in the leading but also in the application of leadership principles to the process of leading in the middle. Meeting that challenge is one of the main purposes for this blog.

The Purpose of Leadership In the Middle

The purpose of this blog is three-fold:

1. To shine light on those who lead in the middle of an organization. Though leaders at the top are the visible leaders, as it turns out, most leaders are not found at the top of the organization. There are too few positions up there! There are estimates that over 14 million people work in US non-profits alone. Many of them lead in the middle. Knowing that, and seeing the results of excellent middle leaders, I am convinced that the really great leaders of our day are often hidden in the middle of an organization, only to be seen when the light shines on them.

2. To apply leadership principles to middle leadership. Leadership principles can work on every level of an organization. However, they must be applied differently at each level. I am convinced that the leadership literature has an application bias. The literature focuses its application on the top few. This blog will focus on applying leadership principles to those who lead in the middle of an organization.

3. To encourage and engage middle leaders. As I talk to middle leaders, I find their story is often one of overwork, limited resources, limited pay and little or no glory. However, the middle leader’s story is also one of great hope, change, and transformation. I hope this blog will be a source of encouragement and engagement for those who lead in the middle.

If you’re one who leads in the middle of an organization, welcome! I want to celebrate you, all you’ve done and are going to do. For all of the others, welcome! I want you to be aware of one of the greatest gifts and resources any organization can have—those who engage in the process of leadership in the middle.

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