Invisible Leaders: Why Mid-Level Roles Matter More Than Ever
Jun 06, 2025
Let’s talk about the most powerful, misunderstood, and often neglected layer of leadership in your Club.
No, not your executive team. Not your frontline. I’m talking about your middle managers - the team leaders, CSMs, supervisors and duty managers who quietly hold your operation together.
And I do mean quietly.
They’re the ones who catch the roster issues before they explode. They smooth over guest complaints before they escalate. They de-escalate staff conflict on the floor, while also remembering the gluten-free request on Table 7.
They lead without fanfare. And too often, without training.
For too long, mid-level roles have been viewed as a transit zone: a temporary stop between “just staff” and “real leadership”. But what if we stopped treating it like a stepping-stone and started recognising these critical roles as a strategic lever?
When middle managers are empowered:
- Morale improves
- Frontline teams stay longer
- Guest experience gets more consistent
- Executive pressure eases
But when they’re ignored? Well… you already know the answer. Burnout. Blame. Turnover.
So Why Are They So Often Left Behind?
It’s not about bad intentions. Most Clubs genuinely care about their team. But middle managers fall into the grey zone. They’re not senior enough to get executive training. Not new enough to be onboarding. And often too busy to raise their hand. So, they lead reactively. By instinct, habit or copying what they saw before — whether it worked or not.
I have spent decades training Club leaders and I created Middle Management Movement to meet this exact gap. Because we know what happens when the people in the middle are taught how to lead, not just manage:
- They stop burning out.
- They start showing up with calm, clarity, and confidence.
- They become the kind of leaders who make others want to stay.
And isn’t that what every Club needs right now?
So, if you’re ready to stop looking past your mid-level leaders and start seeing them as essential rather than invisible, BOOK A CALL with me to walk through your Club’s structure and budget, and find the MMM pathway that fits your team.
