The Leadership Role of Today's Middle Manager

Abstract

In a previous article this author identified a leadership role for top management. In this article he sets his sights on identifying the unique leadership role of today's middle manager. This author links the role of middle management with that of today's organizational leaders in response to the simultaneous calls for unity and diversity.Is there a legitimate need for middle managers in today's flattened organizations? What role might be left for the middle manager in light of trends toward team-based operations? Can middle managers supplement the work of teams? How can middle management complement the role of organizational leaders? How should middle managers respond to today's simultaneous calls for unity and diversity?After briefly reviewing the role of organizational leaders in response to simultaneous calls for unity and diversity, the author explores the leadership role of middle management today. In preparation for identifying the tasks of the middle manager in today's organizational environment, he covers some of the costs associated with the loss of middle managers. The author concludes that middle managers in today's flattened and team-based organization bring leadership as: integrators creating organizational unity; facilitators releasing human diversity into group processes; and implementers of necessary supporting systems for recognizing and rewarding actions that foster unity and unlock diversity.