Middle managers feel squeezed like a toothpaste tube; the article shows how to pick a single role (player or coach) for a set period, communicate it, and regain focus without burning out.
Middle managers constantly juggle tactical work and people leadership, leaving them feeling like a toothpaste tube squeezed from both ends. The piece argues that balance is an illusion and that the real lever is "Fluid Focus"-deliberately choosing either the "player" or "coach" role for a defined stretch and accepting the trade-off. By asking what is most urgent and what the team needs most right now, leaders can pinpoint which role will deliver the highest impact.
Once the role is chosen, the article stresses the need to broadcast the decision clearly to both the team and the manager. It gives concrete phrasing for a three-week focus on a marketing campaign, showing how to pause 1:1s, set expectations, and invite supervisor input. This prevents confusion, aligns expectations, and creates space for deep work without the noise of competing demands.
Finally, it acknowledges the hidden cost of context-switching and suggests building buffer weeks between focus periods to recover and reassess. By recognizing personal preferences, leaders avoid defaulting to the role they enjoy most and instead match the role to the current context. The result is reduced cognitive load, deeper output, and a healthier rhythm for both the manager and the team.
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