Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Research in Management and Economics
Year: 2025
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L.E.A.D. From the Middle: Bridging Strategy and Execution Through Layered Leadership
Natalie Runoff
ABSTRACT:
Organizations today are saturated with strategy and technology, yet execution still lags—conversations repeat, goals get lost in translation, and progress feels slower and smaller than it should. Research shows that only 10% of businesses reach two-thirds of their strategic objectives. This paper argues that the primary obstacle is not flawed strategies or unmotivated employees but the unled space between numbers and people and points out that middle management is well-positioned to lead this space. Most firms attempt to fix execution through sharper KPIs, cutting-edge technologies, or better coaching. However, they overlook the crucial need to integrate logic (data, outcomes) with emotion (people, engagement) via a living leadership system. This paper introduces the concept of layered leadership—a systemic approach that reframes middle managers not as task distributors or rules enforcers but as a unique and empowered leadership tier. Drawing from executive experience, personal insight, and applied methodology, it introduces the L.E.A.D. from the Middle framework (Leverage, Enable, Align, Drive). Applied in companies with 50–100 employees, this model showed a 23% improvement in profitability, a 67% increase in retention, and a 200% boost in engagement. This approach challenges both traditional hierarchy and the people-centric approach, offering a new blueprint for sustainable high-performance culture and results.
Keywords: Middle management, strategy-execution gap, leadership systems, organizational synergy, L.E.A.D. framework