Leading from the Middle - In other words, Herding Cats

I have written before about leaders needing to look over their shoulder every now and then to see if the people behind them are following, but to be honest, I have been reevaluating this viewpoint because I don't think it is entirely accurate for today's leaders. I would propose that leaders lead from the middle instead.

When you are leading from the front, you really don't have a good view of those that you are supposed to lead. You may be focused entirely on the vision, but lose track of the people that actually carry out that vision. If you are so engrossed in the vision, you might actually get so far out ahead that the you lose the people behind you.

If you lead from behind, you have a good view of those who need more guidance and direction, but your high fliers may feel alienated because they aren't receiving any direction. In this line of thinking, the vision and direction really aren't provided.

That leaves the middle. That uncomfortable place in the center of all things where it is messy. That obscure place that leadership literature doesn't discuss because it is a concept that doesn't sell. Leading from the middle takes work, hard work, and it requires providing direction and herding all the time. It's a lot like herding cats.

Leading from the middle also requires that you let go of your ego and understand that the focus is not on you, but rather, the people that you are leading. It requires that you sometimes let others take center stage and run the show. It means that you will get criticized MORE because people think that you are copping out and not taking ownership, when in fact, you are actually developing leaders in your organization. Most people hold a preconceived notion of what leaders should look like and how they should lead. The reality of the situation is that leaders in the middle challenge this conventional view and sometimes are not identified as leaders because they do not fit the conventional mode.

So the question you need to ask yourself is, "What kind of leader do you want to be?" Do you want to be out front getting all the attention in a position that is high risk/high reward, do you want to spend your time spinning your wheels at the back of the pack trying to get everyone to pick up the pace, or do you want to do the hard work herding cats in the middle. From my vantage point, I choose the latter because you have the opportunity to have the greatest impact on the people that surround you.