The quiet magic of middle managers : David Brooks / NYTimes

Article shared by Tom McDermott

We all have our list of great leaders - okay, sometimes a very short list, but certainly a set of those who broke barriers and pushed beyond what seemed possible.  But we tend to forget the many others who helped turn the dreams of leaders into reality - the middle managers who built the architecture, overcame the obstacles, solved the problems and cushioned the damage along the way.  

Were you a middle manager and did your job well?  The answer is probably 'yes'.  

If so, take a bow.

Click here for the article in the NYTimes

Excerpt:

"The economists tell us that people are basically self-interested, but there comes a time in the lives of many managers when the capacity to guide and foster the next generation is more rewarding than just serving themselves. And yet they do this mentoring with respect, not condescension. The most generative leaders don’t see themselves as doing things “for” people. They know that “with” is more powerful than “for.”