The future of Middle Managers starts with You

Influence Without Authority, Role Ambiguity and Identify Conflict in Middle Managers

2 Core Research Questions

1. What influence strategies do middle managers use to lead effectively without formal authority, and how do these strategies impact organisational outcomes?

2. How does role ambiguity shape the leadership identity and self-concept of middle managers?

Why This Matters

Middle managers must lead through persuasion, credibility, and relationship capital, not power. Yet they often receive no formal training in influence or political navigation.

Middle managers sit in a tension-filled space, they're expected to “lead up” to executives, “lead down” to teams, and “lead across” to peers. This can create internal conflict about who they are as leaders, and whether they’re truly empowered.

Impact of This Research

This research aims to find the following:

Identify the most effective influence tactics and when to use them.
Help redefine leadership success beyond formal power.
Identify the leadership identity needs of middle managers.
Provide a roadmap for organisations to create role clarity.
Equip L&D teams to better prepare middle managers for real influence.
Inform coaching, L&D, and succession planning.

What You’ll Receive

For just a few minutes of your time, you'll receive the Management Success skills eWorkbook and The Self-Leadership Whitepaper

The full results of this survey will also be shared and used in a range of ways: a comprehensive report, informing workshop design and more, all putting you at the forefront of leading confidently from the middle.

As a survey responder, you’ll get early access to the final report before everyone else. You’ll be first to see the findings.

Why Participate?

Your input will help me understand critical workplace dynamics. As well as your participation means, you:

The future of Middle Managers starts with You

Influence Without Authority, Role Ambiguity and Identify Conflict in Middle Managers

2 Core Research Questions

Why This Matters

Impact of This Research

What You’ll Receive

For just a few minutes of your time, you'll receive the Management Success skills eWorkbook and The Self-Leadership Whitepaper

Why Participate?

LEAD THE SHIFT

Be part of a movement that redefines leadership power, not by title, but by impact.

BUILD A STRONGER VOICE

Contribute to identifying the most effective influence strategies and how organisations can foster them.

MAKE INFLUENCE VISIBLE

Help showcase the invisible leadership work you do without formal authority and why it matters.