Leading from the Middle: The Invisible Weight of Holding Both Sides
There’s a particular kind of leadership no one really trains you for.
It’s not glamorous.
It doesn’t come with corner offices or bold titles.
But it carries weight. Real weight.
It’s the kind of leadership where you’re in it with your team—but also accountable to leadership above you.
You’re not quite “staff,” not quite “exec.”
You’re in the middle—translating, advocating, absorbing, delivering.
And sometimes? It feels like you’re failing both.
You’re Not Doing It Wrong. You’re Doing Something Hard.
Middle leaders often wear two faces at once:
One for your team: calm, competent, “I’ve got you.”
One for leadership: strategic, data-backed, “We’re on it.”
You’re translating human needs into policy language… and trying to humanize policy for the people doing the work. You’re navigating the mess in real time—where empathy meets expectations and the culture you want doesn’t always match the structure you’re given.
This is not a failure.
This is leadership in its most nuanced form.
The Tension is the Work
When you’re leading from the middle, you’re not just doing your job—you’re:
Managing up and down
Coaching people through burnout while being burned out yourself
Making space for feedback and defending decisions
Trying to empower your team without overstepping your role
You don’t always get the final say.
But you carry the weight of the outcome anyway.
That’s a heavy ask. And still—you show up.
Let’s Say It Clearly:
Middle leadership is real leadership.
It’s quiet. Strategic. Human.
And it’s often the glue holding organizations together.
At KithWell, we see you.
The ones bridging the gap.
The ones playing translator between the heart and the hierarchy.
The ones still showing up with empathy, even when you’re stretched thin.
You’re not invisible. You’re essential.
Let’s Talk About It
What’s been your biggest challenge, or lesson, from leading in the middle?
Drop a comment below.
Your story might be exactly what another quiet leader needs to hear today.
