No Bullsh!t Leadership: Moment #93 – Rising Above the Concrete Layer

Host: Martin G Moore
Date: November 3, 2024

Episode Overview

In this "Moments with Marty" mini-episode, Martin G Moore unpacks the challenges and pressures of middle management in large organizations, referring to it as "the concrete layer." He explores why middle manager roles are uniquely difficult, the traps leaders fall into, and offers concise, no-nonsense advice on how to effectively rise above this notorious barrier and deliver meaningful results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of Middle Management: The "Meat in the Sandwich"

• The Pressure Zone: Middle managers face a unique squeeze, bearing pressure from above (senior leadership) and resistance from below (their teams).
  • "You're effectively the meat in the sandwich. You get pressure from above and resistance from below, and sometimes it's hard to work out which side you want to be on." (01:34)
• Resulting Dissonance: This dynamic creates constant uncertainty, increased stress, and—often—misery in the role.

2. The "Concrete Layer" Phenomenon

• What Is It?: In large organizations, middle management often becomes a communication and action barrier—strategic intent fails to trickle down, and insights from the frontline never make it up.
  • "Middle management in larger organizations is often known as the concrete layer because no value manages to get through it. The messages that the senior leadership is trying to communicate simply can't make their way down through the concrete layer, and the thoughts, concerns and ideas of the workforce can't seem to make their way up through the concrete layer either." (02:01)
• Lack of Support from Above: Often, senior leaders or direct bosses fail to protect, support, or empower middle managers to enact change or uphold standards.

3. Common Challenges for Middle Managers

• Unreasonable Demands: Having to deliver programs beyond their team's capacity due to lack of resources or support.
  • "Your boss may set unreasonable or irrational demands like the under-resourcing for your team that I spoke about before." (03:14)
• Lack of Clarity: Objectives are often muddied by competing priorities, flip-flopping, or vague direction from above.
• Inconsistent Backing: Bosses may not back tough decisions, undermining middle managers’ authority and accountability.

4. The Temptation (and Trap) of People-Pleasing

• Split Loyalties: Many middle managers attempt to keep everyone happy—both their team and their boss—creating internal conflict and reducing effectiveness.
  • "The biggest problems seem to come when you try to have a foot in both camps, when you try to be all things to all people, when you try to please your boss on one hand and at the same time to please the people who work for you." (04:01)

Moore's No-Bullsh!t Advice

1. Pick a Side—And Align Upwards

• Choose to Align with Senior Leadership:
  • "You have to pick a side and if you want to rise above the concrete layer, that side is with your boss." (04:26)
• Deliver Management Intent: Your ultimate loyalty must be to implementing corporate strategy and direction.
  • "A leader's job at any level is to execute on management intent to implement the strategy and direction of the company to the best of their ability." (04:56)
• Empathy and Backbone:
  • "Do your job, be a leader and get the most you possibly can out of your people with strength and empathy." (05:27)

2. Don’t Become an Unthinking Yes-Person

• Push Back Appropriately: Fight for your team’s needs when necessary—question unreasonable requests or unfair demands.
  • "You've got to push back on your boss when he asks you to do dumb shit." (04:43)

3. Reject the Middle Ground

• Stop vacillating; take a clear stand aligned with company goals while still advocating thoughtfully for your people.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you're doing the right thing as a middle manager, the senior leadership is going to have plenty of opportunity to show you whether or not they have a genuine appetite for performance improvement." (03:49)
• "It's your job to deliver the most value possible with the resources that you've been gifted by the business. That's how you rise above the concrete layer and remove the daily struggle of trying to decide which way to side on any issue." (05:03)
• "For more depth on this insight, have a listen to episode 74 of the no Bullshit Leadership podcast, 'The Curse of the Middle Manager.'" (05:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:34 – The pressure and dissonance of middle management
• 02:01 – Explaining the "concrete layer" and its impact
• 03:14 – Typical challenges: unreasonable demands & lack of clarity
• 04:01 – The futility of trying to please both sides
• 04:26 – Why you need to pick a side (and which side to pick)
• 04:43 – Importance of pushing back on bad upper management decisions
• 04:56 – The leader's role in executing management intent
• 05:27 – Final encouragement for leading with strength and empathy

Additional Resources

• Related Episode: For deeper exploration, check out Episode 74: "The Curse of the Middle Manager" (link in show notes).

Summary Tone

Martin G Moore delivers his signature tough-love, straight-talking advice, aimed squarely at leaders seeking actionable truth and not platitudes. His focus is on clarity of intent, strength, and the courage to act, wrapped in a message of care for teams—minus the bullshit.