CHAPTER 4
The Cheeky Middle
Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.—Lewis Grizzard
Ah, the middle place. This is the point in your leadership career where nothing is certain, and everything is up for grabs. It’s like being in the middle of an ocean: you’re far from where you launched and still a long way from the safe shores. As a leader, your development is well under way, but nowhere near complete; you are formed but not finished.
Much of what makes midcareer so challenging is that everyone wants a piece of you. Your employees want your time, guidance, and recognition. Your bosses want your loyalty, diligence, and competence. Both groups want your leadership, but each toward different aims. Your employees ...
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