Leading from the Middle: Influence, Collaboration, and Change without Positional Power

EDU A043 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Most organizations in education and social impact work – from community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and start-ups to school systems, universities, and philanthropies – have a single “top” leader.  However, most change rarely starts at the very top. It is usually imagined, shaped, and driven by people who lead from the middle, those who must lead across and up more than they lead down.

This course is for those “middle leaders,” particularly those early-career professionals and emerging leaders who may not manage a budget or lead a large team, but who want to move ideas into action and create impact in their organizations and communities. Whether you hope to work in a non-profit, community-based organization, social enterprise, ed-tech startup, school district, charter school network, or public agency, you will build practical tools to lead from where you are.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
•    Influence decisions without formal authority – shaping priorities and strategies even when you do not own the agenda or the budget;
•    Collaborate effectively laterally and upwards – building strong partnerships with supervisors, senior leaders, and peers (if not yet in the C-suite) across functions;
•    Lead cross-functional projects – clarifying roles, aligning stakeholders, and sustaining momentum when authority is shared or ambiguous;
•    Navigate organizational politics ethically – reading power dynamics, managing conflict, and advocating for equity in complex environments; and
•    Develop a sustainable personal leadership practice – grounding your leadership in clear values, self-awareness, and habits that support long-term growth and well-being.

The course is globally oriented and case-based, drawing on examples from multiple countries and organizational types (e.g., school systems, CBOs, NGOs, social enterprises, universities, and philanthropies). You will apply concepts directly to your current or intended context through simulations, role plays, and course exercises focused on leading a real or proposed change initiative from the middle.