Leading from the middle

of an organisation

FLI Club
11 Sept 2009

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Mee tin g wit h Ng uy ễn Lâ m Phương
(Phuo ng nl)

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Mee tin g with T ra n T hi Ng uy et
Oanh (O anh ttn)

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Why this topic???

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Some reminders

Leadership vs Management.
5 Levels of Leadership (5P/5R)

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Recall of some critical laws of
leadership by John Maxwell
Laws of the Lid (Phuongnl)

Laws of influence (Oanhttn)

For another 19 laws please read … “21 irrefutable laws of

Leadership” by JM or the book Leadership in Resilience

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Leading from the middle
of an organisation

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Your Boss

Your Your
Boss’s Boss’s
Peers Peers

Your Your
YOU as middle
Peers Peers
level leader

Your Peer’s Your Peer’s

Subordinates Subordinates

Your
Subordinates
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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 The My th s of Lead in g from the Mi dd le of
an Orga niza tio n

1) The POSITION Myth

“I can’t lead if I am not at the top”
2) The DESTINATION Myth
“When I get to the top, then I’ll learn to lead”
3) The INFLUENCE Myth
“If I were on top, then people would follow me”
4) The INEXPERIENCE Myth
“When I get to the top, I’ll be in control”
5) The FREEDOM Myth
“When I get to the top, I’ll no longer be limited”
6) The POTENTIAL Myth
“I can’t reach my potential if I’m not the top leader”
7) The ALL-OR-NOTHING Myth
“If I can’t get to the top, then I won’t try to lead”
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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Ch all en ges of Leadi ng f ro m the Mi dd le of
an Orga niza tio n

1. The Tension Challenge:

The pressure of being caught in the middle
2. The Frustration Challenge:
Following an Ineffective Leader
3. The Multi-Hat Challenge:
One head, many hats
4. The Ego Challenge:
You’re often hidden in the middle
5. The Fulfillment Challenge:
Leaders like the front more than the middle
6. The Vision Challenge:
Championing the vision is more difficult when you didn’t create it
7. The Influence Challenge:
Leading others beyond your position is not easy
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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Pri ncip le s to Lead Up (Yo ur boss)

Lead yourself Exceptionally Well

Lighten your Leader’s Load
Be Willing to Do What Others Won’t
Do More than Manage—Lead!
Invest in Relational Chemistry
Be Prepared Every time you Take your Leader’s
Time
Know When to Push and When to Back Off
Become a Go-To Player
Be Better Tomorrow than you are Today
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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Pri ncip le s to Lead Acr oss (Your pee rs )

Understand, Practice and Complete the

Leadership Loop
Put Completing Fellow Leaders Ahead of
Competing with Them
Be a Friend
Avoid Office Politics
Expand Your Circle of Acquaintances
Let the Best Idea Win
Don’t Pretend You’re Perfect

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Pri ncip le s to Lead Do wn (Yo ur tea m)

Walk Slowly Through the Halls

See Everyone as a “10”
Develop Each Team Member as a Person
Place People in Their Strength Zones
Model the Behavior You Desire
Transfer the Vision
Reward for Results

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Leading from the middle of an organisation
 Ru les of th umb s

A Leadership Team is More Effective Than Just

One Leader
Leaders are Needed at Every Level of the
Organization
Leading Successfully at One Level is a Qualifier
for Leading at the Next Level
Good Leaders in the Middle Make better Leaders
at the Top
360º Leaders Possess Qualities Every
Organization Needs

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Leading from the middle of an organisation