Managing from the Middle: The Art of Influencing Up, Down, and Sideways

leadership development workshop

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📆 One-day workshop

Managing from the middle: The art of influencing up, down and sideways

Welcome to “Managing in the middle: The art of influencing up, down, and sideways,” an immersive workshop that delves into the complexities and pressures of managing in the middle of organisations.

In today’s dynamic and fast-paced business environment, organisational life has become increasingly complex. Managers find themselves at the intersection of various roles, responsibilities, and expectations, creating complexity, and the pressure of constant challenges. Navigating the demands of overwhelmed executives, overburdened workers, dissatisfied customers, and fellow harried people managers can be overwhelming. This workshop is designed to help you deal with feeling stuck in the middle, learning how to influence up, down and across your organisation.

At the completion of this full-day workshop you will:

• understand power dynamics and leadership challenges, enhancing collaboration skills for managing the middle
• identify opportunities for influence from the perspective of managing the middle and navigating tensions between organisational layers
• visualise and analyse power networks within and beyond the organisation, identifying potential collaborators and impact areas for managing more effectively
• apply insights to address current management dilemmas, developing practical strategies for more influence in managing the middle.

What’s included in this one-day workshop?

Experiential learning in a ‘Uppers, middles and lowers’ exercise, based on the work of Barry Oshry (2007), gives you valuable insights into the practical and emotional experiences of roles in a hierarchy. By understanding the dynamics at play and how to influence, you are equipped to interact effectively and navigate the complexities with more confidence.

The workshop also incorporates a seminar on the dynamics of managing in the middle of organisations, as well as a ‘network mapping’ exercise, enabling you to visualise the networks of power and influence within and beyond your organisation. This exercise helps you locate yourself, grasp the interconnectedness of roles, identify opportunities for collaboration, and take a networked approach to managing effectively in and from the middle.

The combination of experiential learning and theoretical frameworks delivers practical insights, tools, and strategies to navigate the complexities of hierarchies, interact effectively, and take a networked approach to managing in and from the middle.

“I found the ‘Uppers, middles and lowers‘ exercise so powerful. It revealed the emotional nuances of each level, which gave me profound insights into my own and others’ experiences back in my workplace”

– Cameron Brooks, Leadership Consultant

“The ‘Uppers, Middles, Lowers‘ exercise transformed my perspective on collaboration and hierarchy – a game-changer!”

– Susan Campbell, Associate Executive Director

Who should attend this immersive workshop?

This workshop is designed for managers seeking to increase their influence and become effective agents of change in their organisations. This includes managers of people and operations. If you value practical frameworks and experiential learning with others to gain a deeper understanding of workplace, this workshop is for you. Expect to come away with actionable strategies for managing up, leading your teams, and building strong networks of peers in the middle.

Join us in ‘Managing from the middle: The art of influencing up, down, and sideways’ to unlock your potential, overcome the frustrations of middle management, and navigate the complexities of organisational life with skill and confidence. Embrace this opportunity to excel as a manager in the middle and make a lasting impact within your organisation.

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📆  DATE

Available between July – December 2025 (inclusive)

⏰ SESSION TIME

9.30 am – 4.30 pm

💷  For only

AUD $970

$825 per person (minimum of six) limited-time offer until June 30!

Email Helen to find out more about our custom-designed packages tailored to your organisation’s needs.

👩🏻‍💻 LOCATION

All workshops are available for on-site delivery, and the potential for a hybrid format can be discussed.

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Managing from the Middle: The Art of Influencing Up, Down, and Sideways

leadership development workshop with the following:

Helen McKelvie

Helen has had over 25 years of working in organisations to inform her approach to helping others gain insights into how they take up roles and how to achieve greater alignment with individual, team and organisational purpose. Her own roles as internal planning consultant, policy and project manager, and lawyer in workplaces in both the public and private sectors have provided her with first-hand experience of the complexity and challenges of organisational life.

Helen is an alumnus and now teaches in the Master’s program at the National Institute of Organisation Dynamics Australia (NIODA). She also has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. In addition to her academic qualifications, Helen is an accredited practitioner of PRISM Brain Mapping, an online, neuroscience-based behaviour mapping instrument, and is a registered Analytic-Network Coach. Helen also has training and experience in workplace mediation and yoga teaching qualifications.

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