What Kind of Middle Manager are You?

I’m sure if you’re a manager that you’ve pondered this question. You probably have been in a training session about leadership and explored this question for yourself. May be you’ve even received feedback about the type of manager you are (if you’re lucky! Or may be unlucky depending on the experience…!).

If none of this has happened to you yet, or you’re still unsure about what type of manager you are and you’re keen to learn to be even better, and to grow, then it’s time to take my new Middle Manager Quiz.

If you’re in an organisation reporting into an Executive Team then you’re what I describe as a Middle Manager. And by the nature of your role, you’re in the middle. It’s an important but pressured and conflicted space, where you’re showing up for everyone else but often not yourself. Over time, and without the necessary focus and support, this can be a shitty place to be.

I’ve worked with multiple managers and leaders over the course of my 8 years coaching, training, and leading in Corporate organisations. During this time I’ve identified 4 distinct styles of Middle Manager:

🏃🏻‍♂️ The Accelerator 🏃🏻‍♀️

📣 The Cheerleader 📣

🤝 The Musketeer 🤝

⏱ The Accurist ⏱

My new quiz will highlight which of these styles of Middle Manager you are and help you identify your strengths, and your blind spots, to enable you to take steps to be even better, happier, and more successful. Because being a manager shouldn't be 💩 Take my 5 minute quiz now! https://middlemanager.scoreapp.com.

Let's talk about the four styles in more detail...

The Four Middle Manager Styles

🏃🏻‍♂️ The Accelerator 🏃🏻‍♀️ 📣 The Cheerleader 📣 🤝 The Musketeer 🤝 ⏱ The Accurist ⏱

Each of the styles have strengths and bring great value to their roles, teams, and employers, but equally they have blind spots and opportunities to be even better. Let me tell you more about them!

🏃🏻‍♂️ The Accelerator 🏃🏻‍♀️ 'Let's get this done!' shouts The Accelerator! You're the leader in your business who loves a challenge and the ability to solve a problem. Your key strengths are being decisive, getting things done quickly, and resolving issues. Slowing down, and taking the time to listen to others, will forge better relationships, and create a more collaborative environment.

📣 The Cheerleader 📣 ‘You’ve got this!’ cheers The Cheerleader loudly! You’re a social creature who loves working with others and bringing people together. Your strengths include being creative and offering ideas, bringing energy and enthusiasm to all your work and how you motivate teams, and building relationships. Creating a structured, detailed, plan with clear tasks, roles and responsibilities, and deadlines, is helpful to focus your mind.

🤝 The Musketeer 🤝 You’re all about ‘We Can Do It!’ and you’re focused on taking action, and behaving, for the good of the team. Your strengths include listening, being empathetic, and supporting others. One way that The Musketeer can be even better is by being more open and engaged in delivering change.

‘⏱ The Accurist ⏱ Let’s get this right’. You are most comfortable with the detail, and the facts, and love to gather all the information to enable the right decision to be made. Your strengths include being focused, and determined to get things right, building structure and processes to support teams to succeed, and being creative. You are sensitive but could use your sensitivity to be more empathetic to others.

Want to know which kind of manager you are? Take my 5 minute quiz now! https://middlemanager.scoreapp.com.

What I've Been Up To

It’s been a busy month!

On 12th May I took part in my second Absa 10k Race in Cape Town. It’s one of my favourite events with a stunning view of Table Mountain for the majority of the route. I managed to finish in 1 hour 4 mins which I’m so happy with. Now to aim to achieve a clean 1 hour...!

My husband and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on 19th May and spent a brilliant long weekend away in Stellenbosch, one of our favourite wine regions.

I attended the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHer Conference in Cape Town last year and enjoyed it so much that I encouraged my brilliant friend Adjoa Ayivor, Shadow Careers, to come along with me as my female partner-in-crime and fellow entrepreneur. Yet again it was another amazing day, celebrating inspiring, creative, successful women in business in Cape Town.

What I've Been Listening To

I love Ben Francis, founder of Gymshark, and his story  of being a young adult making his own clothes in his family garage in Solihull, to now celebrating a 1 billion dollar sportswear business and community. So I was thrilled to catch up on his most recent recording with Steven Bartlett on his Diary of a CEO podcast. Ben, who has stepped back into the position of CEO, recently welcomed two retail super women to his Executive Team; Global Vice President of Adidas Hannah Mercer and SVP of Abercrombie & Fitch and GM of Gilly Hicks Kim Dolder. These two appointments are testament to the brand he’s built and the ambitious plans he still has for Gymshark and its future. Despite his success Ben remains honest, humble, self-aware, and keen to learn, which is inspiring and exemplary for all leaders - young and old. Listen now across all major platforms.

What I've Been Reading

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review which discussed how confidence is used as a weapon against women and it echoed not just my experience of working in corporate environments, but also the experience of many of my female clients who come to me to work on their perceived lack of confidence. Too confident, you're cocky, aggressive, intimidating, and probably will be accused of trying to be 'one of the boys'. Not confident enough, you're shy, you're too quiet, you're not contributing, you're not decisive. How often have you been told that you 'need to be more confident' at work? Confidence is such a small word, for such a broad, deep, set of factors. It's unique to every individual. Therefore to receive this feedback is so unhelpful and doesn’t go deep enough.

Read the article yourself: https://hbr.org/2022/10/how-confidence-is-weaponized-against-women

The Coaching Cast: Quiet Thriving

So no doubt you have heard of quiet quitting. But what about quiet thriving? Psychotherapist Lesley Alderman wrote in an article for The Washington Post that the term ‘quiet thriving’ means actively making changes to your work day in order to shift your mental state and help you feel more engaged and fulfilled in your job. It’s about finding satisfaction and success through introspection, steady progress, and deep engagement with one’s work. Suzy and I discuss the concept in more detail, and how it’s an anecdote to quiet quitting, while sharing our own experiences, challenges, and top tips for all of you to try yourself in our latest episode of The Coaching Cast. Listen to episode 88 now across all major platforms and via our website www.thecoachingcast.co.uk

Book a CLARITY HOUR with Me for Just £150

"Lisa really encouraged me to focus on what is happening right now, what I can do right now and what I personally need next. This was essential in helping me to get unstuck and start taking some action." Fiona, Clarity Hour Client, May 2023

If you’re a Middle Manager and feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, now is the time to focus on you and what you need to restore your confidence, balance, and energy.

Why not try my Clarity Hour?

1 hour with me, virtually, on a day and time of your choosing. In the hour we'll explore together:

What’s going on for you right now, what you want instead, what you’ve tried already, what’s getting in the way, what strengths and opportunities you have, and finally the steps towards achieving what you want. All of this for just £150.

If you’re interested in grabbing one then visit gripcoaching.co.uk/services to book yours now and view all of my available services. I'd LOVE to work with you.