Leading from the Middle

How we are leaders no matter our role.

Right now you are a leader, its time to unlock it!

Gill Bennet
Jul 30, 2025
4 min read

Right now, you are a leader.

Back in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote my first blog questioning how we define a leader. At the time, this idea had been sitting with me for several years. With being stuck at home, I thought what better time to sit down and share my thoughts. I genuinely believed that this was a one-blog topic and that would be that.

A year later, I was writing about unconscious bias and its impact on us as leaders. Soon enough, this idea turned into a talk at the Silicon Roundabout Women in Tech event, an on-demand video and audio course, which are available on Udemy and Everand, respectively. I've also written a free e-book that you can download, called "Leading from the Middle: An Introduction." 

For the past few years, I have been quiet on this topic. It requires deep thinking, learning, and reflection, not just about what leadership means, but also about learning and understanding myself in the process. As part of this journey, I have been learning Korean for the last two years. As language plays a significant role in how we communicate and how we perceive leaders, I wanted to examine the primary language (English) I use every day more objectively. I will write a separate blog on how I landed on Korean as the language to learn. 


"In The Lion King, Mufasa says to Simba, 'We are all connected in the great Circle of Life. '"


For the last 22 years, I have worked in Retail, Insolvency and Tech. I have reached a point in my career that has surpassed what I even thought I would achieve. Over the years, I've learned a great deal about myself and grown through the experiences I've had, the mistakes I've made, and from those around me.

So, to begin this series, I thought it was probably best to reintroduce what Leading from the Middle is.

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Unlock the leader within you.

Leading from the Middle is about recognising and unlocking the leader that is already there within you. My goal is to equip you with the tools you need in your toolkit to be able to go out there and not only show the value you bring to your role, but to be able to articulate your personality style, build successful relationships with your colleagues and be able to adapt your language on an individual level while continuing to lead the masses.

Leading from the Middle consists of six building blocks: unconscious bias, Language, Learning, Mental Health, Self-Awareness, and Building Bridges.

The great circle of life: Unconsious Bias, Language, Learning, Mental Health, Self Awareness, Building Bridges.

Building block 1: Analyzing yours and other’s unconscious bias

We are all unconsciously biased. Period. We don’t know what we don’t know. Yet, every day our biases play a huge role in how we see the world. When we see how our unconscious bias plays a role in your’s and others’ working relationships, we can acknowledge it and find ways to address it.

Building block 2: Language has the power to make or break

The human language is one of the human race’s greatest achievements. However, as it has evolved throughout the ages, it has become more complex with different dialects and nuances. By breaking down the barriers in how we communicate in all shapes are forms we can accelerate building relationships.

Building block 3: Learning is an ever-evolving journey

From the moment we are born we are learning. However, how we all learn is unique to us. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We have to recognise the different learning styles and celebrate being among a diverse group of thinkers.

Building block 4: There is strength in being mindful

Mental health is the elephant in the room. That invisibility cloak we all wrap around ourselves so that people don’t see the demons we are struggling with. We will never know everyone’s personal story or how experiences shaped them. We can, however, learn to watch out for signs when we or others have reached our limits and how we can be more mindful.

Building block 5: Self-awareness of yourself and others

Our behaviour has an impact just as those around has an impact on us. That is why we need to self-reflect on ourselves and understand who we are, our limits and know the value we bring to any conversation.

Building block 6: Build bridges

Through exploring the previous building blocks, we have now built out our human element toolkit. We can recognise when we have successfully built bridges in any situation we are in, and also identify and celebrate our value and worth.

These six building blocks provide us with the skills to build out our human element toolkit. A toolkit we draw upon every single day. No matter how big or small the interaction, we are influencing people at all levels to bring about positive change, great and small.

What started as a simple idea to share and challenge people's perceptions and way of thinking has now grown into something so much more. I now aim to write the actual book, and I thought what better way to ensure it helps than to bring you along on the journey with me. This isn't going to be about what I think leadership is; it's just as much about how you see leadership and the qualities that are a part of it. 

Remember. Whatever happens, you bring value to your role. No one else can do what you do, and that is why I celebrate you. 

Thank you for joining me.

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