Grounded in the Middle

By Beth Schaefer

I started this series by talking about how much I enjoy my job being Stuck in the Middle.  And, despite all the Middle Management dilemmas that I have been writing about, I still love my role in middle management.

I hope that the series has helped middle managers by:

1. Affirming your importance in your organization
2. Acknowledging the work you do
3. Providing ideas on how to sustain your quality performance

And maybe even…

4. Providing information that you can use to influence your organization to appreciate you or support you with process that helps, rather than hinders, your work.

As I think about how to “tie a bow” on this series, let me leave you with some tips to build resiliency and stay grounded as you continue in your role of being the shock absorbers for your organizations during these times of change, ambiguity, and added pressure.

2. Build a support network

Connect with peers who are also middle managers and understand the challenges of the role.

For me, I have a fellow Middle Manager that does a Zoom coffee chat with me about every 3 weeks.  We are remote workers who live in different states, but that does not prevent us from being mutual mentors.  I also have some leaders higher up in the organization that I lean on to help me navigate the office politics – something I would avoid entirely if I could.

3. Manage Your Energy

Identify what drains you and what fuels you.  Consider bookending your days, when possible, with the fuels.

For me, whenever possible, I like to start my day (not by checking email because there is plenty of research on how that is not productive) with the fuel of writing.  I sit quietly with coffee and write these articles, write website content, write training proposals, write project plans, write procedures… there is actually quite a bit of writing as a middle manager.   I like to end my days using the fuel of my people with team meetings or with direct report check-ins.  These often include laughter and intentional naming of positive nuggets at work or in life for daily mini-celebrations at the end of the workday.

4. Rely on Routine

Build routines so that you do not need to put energy into managing every minute of each day.

In addition to project management software to help keep me organized, I have a weekly to-do list that I fill out each Friday afternoon for the next week.  This to-do list comes with built in routines – such as sending a project update email to my instructors each Wednesday morning.  The easier I can make routine things, the more brain power I have for the unique challenges.

5. Normalize Setbacks

Talk with your team about past successes that first started with setbacks.

For me, this is hard.  I can be easily discouraged.  I sometimes need to rely on my team to help me remember when something that is optimized now was once a struggle that experienced lots of stops and starts before “sticking.”  Our Expert Insights webinars were once irregular, postponed, and not well-publicized, but now they are part of our department framework.

6. Practice Space and Grace

Provide a safe space – emotionally – for your team to vent emotions.  Provide grace for mistakes with support to prevent mistake repetition.

For me, I find it much easier to give others Space and Grace than myself. However, the beauty of Space and Grace is that when you give it others, they give it back to you.

7. Watch free IPD webinars on Building Resiliency

Use the webinars for yourself, but send the links to your team members who may need some respite from workplace pressures. Show them you care.

And finally…

While this is not a researched tactic, sometimes I ask myself, “Who else could do this role with my legacy of knowledge of the products and process, my passion for the work and quality customer service, my intentional efforts to develop the people around me, and my dedication to this role and not the next one?” And, seeing the short list, I keep moving forward to tackle the challenges of the Middle.