What is the expected view of expectations in the middle?

The perspective of expectations at the middle level in an organization is typically viewed as mixed. This is because individuals in middle management often have to juggle expectations from both upper management and their subordinates. They are positioned between the strategic leaders who set goals and vision, and operational staff who are focused on executing tasks and may have different priorities or concerns.

Middle leaders may experience pressures to deliver results aligned with the organization's broader goals while also addressing the needs and morale of the teams they manage. This dual responsibility can create a blend of high expectations, as they are expected to meet targets and support downward communication from leadership, while also facing the realities and challenges that come from their direct reports. Thus, their expectations are rarely ever purely positive or negative, leading to a mixed view overall.

In contrast, other perspectives, such as high or low expectations, tend to be too one-dimensional and do not accurately capture the complexities of middle management's role. Therefore, a mixed view best encapsulates the nuanced nature of expectations experienced by those in the middle level of an organization.