Leading in the Messy Middle: Navigating the Shift from Doing to Leading
You may have stepped into management because you were trusted to deliver.
Then suddenly the job changed.
You’re no longer just responsible for doing the work well. You’re expected to lead people, influence decisions, manage competing priorities and deliver results through others.
You may find yourself caught between the needs of your team and the expectations of senior leadership, carrying responsibility without always having the authority to make things happen.
It can feel like being pulled in every direction.
In this practical and interactive session, we’ll explore what it really takes to move from doing the work to leading others through it.
We’ll look at how to manage competing expectations, influence without complete authority, communicate with confidence and lead through uncertainty without carrying the weight of everything on your own.
You’ll leave with practical tools, sharper thinking and more confidence to lead when the answers, authority or decisions aren’t fully in your hands.
We’ll explore:
Why the move from doing to leading can feel so uncomfortable
The challenge of responsibility without authority
Holding the tension between your team’s needs and leadership expectations
Building trust and credibility under pressure
Influencing outcomes when you lack full decision-making power
Leading without carrying everything yourself
About your hosts:
Antonia Bartels, affectionately known as Kooks, is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Director of Coaching at Coaching with Kooks.
With more than 10 years’ experience across executive search, career transitions and coaching, Antonia has supported professionals, managers and senior leaders through moments of growth, change and uncertainty. Her work across the UK and Australia has given her a practical understanding of what organisations need and what people experience when stepping into bigger roles, navigating change or making sense of what comes next. She helps people make confident decisions, navigate change and build careers that work for them
tyllr is a personal and professional development platform built to help managers thrive. Acting as a co-pilot for modern management, it combines expert-led learning, practical tools, scripts, curated resources and community support to help managers navigate everyday challenges with more confidence. Designed to fit into the flow of work, tyllr provides fast answers, deeper development and ongoing support across wellbeing, leadership and management skills, helping managers become better leaders over time and creating healthier workplaces for everyone.
We cannot wait for you to join us in this session.
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