Master Class Leading from the Middle

This Master Class elevates you beyond traditional strategy execution roles, preparing you for future leadership challenges with a focus on innovation and adaptability. It offers a personalized development track, including peer learning and reflective assignments, tailored to your unique context. The curriculum is built on evidence-based frameworks, taught by experts across diverse domains, ensuring a comprehensive leadership education. Plus, insights from Sports Psychologist Ellen Schouppe on mental resilience and energy will equip you with the attitudes needed for middle leadership success.

Exactly what a leader in the middle should do, is defined by context, time, and dynamics. Is there any need for discipline or innovation? Is the strategy credible or rather dangerous? Do employees need breathing space, clarity, or political support? Only the people in the middle can assess what position to take. It is up to them to write the plot of their story.

After completing this module, you will have:

• strengthened your self-awareness and authenticity as a leader in the middle;
• a better understanding of the importance of attitude, along with additional strategies to effectively navigate the unique challenges found within the leadership mid-zone;
• the necessary storytelling skills to finetune your own story and inspire others.

Leaders in the middle ensure consensus in execution and coherent implementation of strategy. But there is more. They reinforce the strategy from the bottom up and/or break it somewhat open by being creative and innovative. Both require a strong connection to the dynamics and any changes in the organization.

After completing this module, you will:

• have acquired knowledge and tools to optimally align people and resources to strategy.
• understand the dynamics of exploitation and exploration, and you will recognize your critical role in navigating this 'ambidexterity.'
• have a sharpened understanding of your role and position within your organization's strategic narrative.

Leaders in the Middle embody "ambidexterity", adeptly balancing performance with innovation. They foster innovation through structural flexibility and a culture of entrepreneurship, experimentation, and learning, while also enhancing or reshaping strategy from the bottom up, either by integrating internal insights to strengthen it or by challenging and revising it for improvement.

After completing this module, you will:

• understand the criticality of an entrepreneurial mindset and how to apply it;
• have tools to structurally empower your teams;
• know how to enhance your team's psychological safety and learning capabilities;
• be able to navigate stakeholder relationships politically in order to take on upward roles;
• have gained insights into building and leveraging strategic social capital.

Throughout the course, you work on your story as a leader in the middle, facilitated by assignments and check-in moments. During the lift-off, you'll present your leadership journey and along with it, your lessons learned.