Overview:
“Leading from the Middle, Reaching to the Top” is a multi-module course designed for middle managers who want to exert their leadership in order to effect positive change. The course explores how to demonstrate presence, influence across boundaries, lead for common cause, and achieve sustainable results. The course is based upon John’s work as a leadership educator and executive coach as well as many of his books.
Background:
Middle management is the heart and soul of an organization. These are the men and women who make things work. Often, like middle children, they are overlooked. Now in our times of economic scarcity middle managers are the ones who must do more to effect positive outcomes. They must think and act strategically but they must also execute with clarity and alacrity. Middle managers may be unsung but the need for them has never been greater.
Process:
Teaching leadership development integrates team learning with self-learning in ways that combine group activities with individual coaching. The process begins with standardized leadership assessments that give each participant an overview of his or her leadership style. The group learning includes selected readings, seminars, case studies and guest lectures.
The group learning will involve a series of workshops focused on issues that mean the most to middle managers. Once a foundation is established the program can include topics that participants want to explore. These may include the management and leadership challenges leaders face in the workplace.
Coaching:
Participants will receive individual coaching that begins with a review of the leadership assessments. The coaching process is a guided form of self discovery where the coach helps the participant discover things about his or her leadership self that will enable the individual to lead more effectively.
Evaluation:
The program concludes with an evaluation process that asks each individual: what have you learned and what are you going to do to become a better leader? The evaluation also may include input from those who work with the participants as well as comments from the coach.
Learning Fundamentals
Learning Objectives:
Participants who engage in this learning activity will:
Discover the potential of their leadership self
Explore what it takes to influence and effect change with and without authority
Define what it takes to bring people together for common cause
Learn from proven leaders and fellow participants what it means to manage from the middle and lead oneself and one’s team to achieve intended results
Format:
The combination of individual and group learning involves the following:
Group Learning:
The learning sessions will be designed around real-world challenges that emerging leaders face. The sessions will be interactive and requires active participation. Elements of the sessions will include:
Workshops
Case studies
Guest lectures from business and thought leaders
Individual Coaching:
Each participant will have a designated number of sessions with an executive coach. Participant and coach will meet regularly in one to one sessions, either face to face or on the phone.
Who Should Attend:
Middle managers
Curriculum
“Leading from the Middle” is a multi-module course comprised of group learning, individual assessment and personalized coaching. Among the workshop topics are:
Leading with Presence
Demonstrating competence
Confirming credibility
Radiating confidence
Communicating clearly, concisely and consistently
Thinking & Acting Strategically
Thinking like a CEO
Acting like a middle manager
Making the vision real
Leading from Vision to Results
Creating the Vision
Ensuring Alignment through Execution
Honoring Courage
Presenting as a Leader
Developing and delivering leadership messages
Storytelling for impact
Master class: presentation skills
Influencing from the Middle
Developing the business case
Building a coalition
Developing your strategic influence planner
Coaching Your Employees
Hiring for Talent·
Getting the most out of your people
Having meaningful conversations
Getting Promoted
What it takes to get promoted
The right way to get noticed
Game-planning your next steps
Group Learning
“Leading from the Middle” will employ a variety of adult learning principles to bring the learning lessons to life.
Toward that end, our faculty will make use of the following:
Lecture
Case studies
Group activities
Video vignettes
In-Class presentation
There will be independent learning that will involve assessments, action planning exercises, optional group sessions, and selected readings.
Executive Coaching
“Leading from the Middle” will include individualized coaching. Coaching will follow a three-step model:
Assessment: where you are now?
This phase includes a combination of 1:1 interviews and online leadership assessments to determine what the coachee wants to achieve during the coaching engagement.
Action Plan:what you want to do to get better?
The coachee will select one or two objectives to focus us during the coaching engagement. These objectives should be geared to helping the coach become a more effective leader.
Evaluation:what have you accomplished?
At the end of the coaching engagement the coach and coachee will discuss what the coachee has learned and what he/she wants to do next. [When possible, the coach will have a three-way conversation with the coachee and his/her immediate supervisor.]
