B-Suite Influence: How Middle Managers Can Overcome Chaos and Deliver C-Suite Impact
August 1, 2023
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the volume of information we are exposed to these days. Not only the barrage of social media and news updates, but we’re also offered so many new tools and technologies at work that theoretically make our teams better, work easier, and lives happier. As leaders, how do we rise above the noise, and ensure that our impact is not just felt, but recognized? To help answer that question, we’re joined by Rebecca Houghton, founder of BoldHR and 25-year veteran of leadership development.
Middle managers don’t always get the respect they deserve. While they handle a majority of the direct oversight of people in organizations, they seem to end up… stuck in the middle. Mediocre. Middle class. Meh. Nevertheless, these leaders are capable of making as much impact as C-suite executives, provided they control the pace of work that comes through their team, claim the space their role affords, and make the case for their expanded influence.
How can middle managers get there? For starters, Rebecca Houghton advises that we use the term “B-suite” to reflect the high-level impact of managers. Rebecca is a long-time Leadership + Talent expert, founder, and author of the bestselling book Impact: 10 Ways to Level Up Your Leadership. Today on the show, she explains how B-suite leaders can overcome the chaos and lead their teams to victory.
Join us as we discuss:
How can middle managers get there? For starters, Rebecca Houghton advises that we use the term “B-suite” to reflect the high-level impact of managers. Rebecca is a long-time Leadership + Talent expert, founder, and author of the bestselling book Impact: 10 Ways to Level Up Your Leadership. Today on the show, she explains how B-suite leaders can overcome the chaos and lead their teams to victory.
Join us as we discuss:
- The importance of first controlling the pace of work before you maximize your impact within the “space” of your role
- How to prevent universal distressors from affecting us disproportionately as individuals
- How our perceived “sphere of control” affects the amount of anxiety we take on at work (and in life)
- Why influence is neither a coincidence, nor an innate capability, but an action toward an outcome
- The 4 “directions” of influence B-suite leaders can pursue
- How laughter and helping others can help restore your battery
- What recruiting NASA scientists into other industries can teach us about thriving amid the chaos
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Episode Resources
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L&D In Action: Winning Strategies from Learning Leaders releases every other Tuesday, bringing you conversations from the best minds in Learning and Development.
Previous guests include: Simon Brown of Novartis, Ravin Jesuthasan of Mercer, Michael Lee Stallard of Connection Culture Group, Michelle Weise of Rise and Design and Dr. Nigel Paine of Learning Now TV.
Check out our five most downloaded episodes:
Previous guests include: Simon Brown of Novartis, Ravin Jesuthasan of Mercer, Michael Lee Stallard of Connection Culture Group, Michelle Weise of Rise and Design and Dr. Nigel Paine of Learning Now TV.
Check out our five most downloaded episodes:
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- Creating Relational Excellence with the Power of Connection Culture
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- Reframing L&D: The Need For Learning Practitioners In An Evolving World