Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization

Product Description
The definitive playbook for driving impact as a middle manager
Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization delivers an insightful and practical guide for the backbone of an organization: those who have a boss and are a boss and must lead from the messy middle. Accomplished author and former P&G executive Scott Mautz walks readers through the unique challenges facing these managers, and the mindset and skillset necessary for managing up and down and influencing what happens across the organization.
You’ll learn the winning mindset of the best middle managers, how to develop the most important skills necessary for managing from the middle, how to create your personal Middle Action Plan (MAP), and effectively influence:\nUp the chain of command, to your boss and those above them
Down, to your direct reports and teams who report to you
Laterally, to peers and teams you have no formal authority over\nAnyone in an organization who reports to someone and has someone reporting to them must lead from the middle. They are the most important group in an organization and have a unique opportunity to drive impact. Leading from the Middle explains how.
From the Inside Flap
Anyone who has a boss and is a boss is forced to lead from the messy middle. To do so brilliantly requires a mindset and skillset uniquely suited to managing up, down, and across.
In Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization, author and former P&G executive Scott Mautz delivers the definitive playbook for creating impact and achieving results as a middle manager. The book contains accessible, specific, and actionable directions for influencing your direct reports, your colleagues, and the people you report to with emotional intelligence and savvy, and empowers managers to create a personal MAP (Middle Action Plan) to drive impact across your organization. It shows you how to develop the mindset and skillset you need to get results.
You’ll also discover how to lead teams and influence peers you have no formal authority over. And you’ll be equipped with a specific model for leading change in a way that generates enthusiasm and commitment from employees—critical in times of flux when your organization needs to adapt in order to thrive, not just survive.
Perfect for managers, executives, and leaders of all types, Leading from the Middle is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to increase their impact on the organization in which they work, or simply to better understand the realities facing middle managers in any organization. It is the ideal playbook for middle managers in organizations of all sizes and in all industries.
From the Back Cover
Praise for LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE
“Too many leadership books are great on theory, light on applicability. Mautz nails the unmet need of helping middle managers with insightful, specific advice.” ―Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of WHEN, DRIVE, and To Sell is Human
“The ultimate guide for middle managers to create the most value for their companies and increase engagement and productivity from their teams. A must-read!” ―Marshall Goldsmith, two-time #1 Leadership Thinker in the world and the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Triggers, Mojo, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
“Influencing others is hard. For middle managers―who must lead up, down, and across―it’s harder. Scott Mautz has created an insightful book filled with specific advice that will help managers right away.” ―Dorie Clark, author of Reinventing You and executive education faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business
“Scott Mautz has led from every level of the organization, and knows exactly how to make your influence felt, regardless of your role. Leading from the Middle is a practical playbook from someone who has been there and done it.” ―Todd Henry, author of The Mo