From the Course Director

Welcome to Leading from the Middle: The 360-Degree Leader, a transformative leadership development course designed for those who may not hold the highest title but aspire to make the highest impact.

In many organizations, especially within education, — leadership is often viewed as a top-down function. But true influence doesn’t require a corner office. It requires clarity, credibility, and the courage to lead from wherever you are. This course is built on the foundational insights of John C. Maxwell’s The 360-Degree Leader, tailored to empower middle leaders to lead upward, across, and downward with purpose and integrity.

Whether you’re a department head, deputy principal, district coordinator, or team leader, this course will equip you to become a catalyst for change — not by waiting for authority, but by exercising influence.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the mindset of a 360-degree leader Learn what it means to lead from the middle and why influence matters more than position.

• Lead upward with confidence and credibility Discover how to support and challenge those above you without undermining authority.

• Lead across with collaboration and trust Build strong peer relationships that foster teamwork, innovation, and shared success.

• Lead downward with clarity and compassion Learn to empower those you supervise, even if you don’t have formal authority over them.

• Navigate common leadership challenges Overcome myths and barriers that prevent middle leaders from stepping into their full potential.

• Develop a personal leadership action plan Apply course insights to your own context, with tools to measure growth and impact.

Why This Matters

Middle leaders are the backbone of any system. They translate vision into action, mediate between strategy and execution, and hold the pulse of organizational culture. This course will help you lead with influence, not just intention, and become the kind of leader others choose to follow.