Mastering the Middle – Event Recap WIN LDN X C Space

Many of us can pinpoint a time in our careers when we are no longer being told what to do, but instead being responsible for leading projects and directing teams. While we may not carry the title of MD or CEO (yet), we have transitioned to a management role - somewhere between task completion and senior leadership –  and find ourselves firmly in the ‘middle.’

While this ‘middle’ opens up exciting new career opportunities, it also uncovers unchartered territory and new challenges from: owning project responsibilities, shifting relationships between junior and more senior colleagues and developing your own leadership styles.

E83A5885.JPG

So, how can we master the middle? The WIN London community came together for an interactive session led by Natasha Richardson and Lucy Warnock of C Space, the Customer Agency, and organised by Justine Lai, a C Spacer and WIN LDN Chapter Lead to reflect, define and share how to best own and navigate this inflection point in our careers.

E83A5936.JPG


Here are our top 4 learnings from the event:

1. Shift your mindset from team member to project leader

The ‘middle’ is the start of our leadership journey and this role brings new professional responsibilities. In contrast to more junior roles, the job is no longer about the completion of tasks but instead there is a shift to overseeing, guiding and managing the project process. Whether it’s encouraging collaboration, creating open channels of communication, or inspiring teams, your goal as a project leader has now shifted to creating value for others. C Space’s MD, Kathyrn Blanshard, described the personal shift she went through when she changed from seeing leadership as an exercise where others work for you to when you start working for others. This is also beautifully described by research professor Brené Brown.

A leader is someone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding the potential in people and process

– Brené Brown

We are often rationally aware of these new job priorities, but adapting our mindsets, attitudes and behaviours in the workplace is vital to make the shift to leadership. Reflection and self-awareness is crucial to helping us understand how to thrive. Some strategies highlighted by the WIN community include shifting the mindset to teaching /coaching and reading up on leadership theory to build feeling of competence 

So, when it comes to transitioning to this new mindset, ask yourself:

  1. What mindsets, tasks or behaviors should you start, stop or continue doing as part of this new leading role?

  2. How can you help your projects flourish and team members grow?

  3. How can you bring more value to others - whether team, clients or managers

2. Define your leadership mantra through learnings and observing

As you step into a leading role, this offers an opportunity to start defining what leader you aspire to be (or don’t want to be). Our personal experience with project leaders can serve as insightful inspiration on values, qualities and behaviour that we can learn from and incorporate in our style moving forward.

During the session, the WIN London community reflected that it wasn’t just their leadership role model’s behaviours that inspired them but rather how their role model’s actions made them feel that made a lasting impression on them. We asked everyone to identify which style of leadership they related to the most and also to share examples of leadership that had inspired them.

Examples of inspiring leadership experiences include leaders that respect your opinions and make you feel safe and leaders that make you feel confident by helping you identify your strength.

Taking an empathy-led approach in which you question ‘how do you want your team to feel?’ can serve as key guidance for developing how you communicate and position yourself as a leader. So develop your style, ask yourself:

  1. What values do you find inspiring in your leadership role models? 

  2. As a leader, what values, qualities and behaviour do you want to stand for?

  3. How can you incorporate an empathy-led approach - on how you want others to feel as part of your leadership - into your personal mantra? 

E83A6180 (1).JPG

3. Identify the blockers that are holding you back from becoming a leader

As the WIN community reflected on during the evening, the barriers to our success can come from other people or situations out of our control, but in fact it’s often our perceptions and assumptions of ourselves that really stop us from reaching our goals. Being a woman in a male-dominated arena, we can feel like the leadership role is not ours to take, or that we haven’t met the right criteria to take the lead. 

C Space used the projective art exercise “Art from Within” to encourage people to draw their greatest fears and leadership barriers, resulting in these beautiful images:

An awareness of the pressure we put on ourselves – whether expectations or goals - in our careers can be the first step to switching our attitudes further down the line. But as one of our valued attendees mentioned, stepping back can make you realise that the pressures on yourself were unfair and harsh in the first place – so dare to ‘call bullshit on yourself!’ To overcome the barriers, ask yourself:

  1. What perceptions of yourself and your abilities are limiting you from becoming the leader you aspire to be?

  2. Who in your work environment can be a critical soundboard to help you take a step back from the pressure you put on yourself? 

  3. What constructive expectations could you place on yourself? And what are the tools for taking first steps in achieving those?

Capture2.PNG

4. Find tools and tricks that help you thrive as a (project) leader

To reach our leadership goals, we have to not just strive and dream but also put some practical solutions and support systems in place. It’s time to identify what you need to feel better, stronger and more supported in overcoming your barriers and action your vision. 

During the evening the WIN community shared a wide range of tricks from taking the time for a rested lunch break, to shutting down your technology to focus on deep working tasks, from finishing your meetings on a positive note to power dressing when you need that extra confidence. We are all different in our leadership styles, our needs and wants, so try and find something that works for you, for example:

  1. What do you need to feel stronger and more supported in your role?

  2. What (body) language, technology and process tips and tricks can help you look after yourself and your team better?

  3. Who in your team or company might be able to introduce you to some more valuable advice? 


Curious what the WIN Community brainstormed?

Click here to access a Google Sheet with all the ideas brainstormed! 

Want some project leadership inspiration, particularly as you’re stuck at home and taking time to sit back and reflect? Click here to download C Space’s Mastering the Middle booklet created by C Space’s Knowledge Manager Suzie Benson that outlines different leadership typologies, their top tips for stepping up and gives space to write down your Leadership Mantra.


Thanks to Lucy, Tash and all the team at C Space, and the LDN WIN community for hosting such an insightful and inspiring evening!

C Space: Natasha Richardson, Lucy Warnock, Justine Lai, Suzie Benson, Kathryn Blanshard, Jess Appleton, Cosima Mockett

Photography: Qasim Alam

Editorial: Joëlla Bril

WIN: Women in Innovation Copyright (c) 2020 All rights reserved. This content may not be reproduced or repurposed without written permission from WIN: Women in Innovation (501(c)3). This blogpost is provided for your personal use only. 


WIN Women