As an EOS Implementer, I see it quite frequently. The leadership team has been running on EOS for a while, and they’re starting to come together and feel good about themselves. They’re executing consistently and generating the results they want.
And so they stop. They get complacent. They think the work is done.
But if you want to build a self-managing company that can go the distance, it isn’t enough to have the leadership team running well.
A Lack of Mid-Manager Strength
The next level down, the mid-managers, need to be able to not just execute well but innovate and problem-solve on their own.
Where I see companies struggle is that they tend to stop at the leadership team level. Sometimes because they don’t want to let go and delegate to elevate. There’s fear there, and they still want to be involved in every decision and understand every detail. Sometimes they just get complacent and think the work is done.
Related Reading: Download the Delegate & Elevate Tool
Self-managing companies that go the distance have strong mid-managers. This means they can tackle real issues and grow their direct reports or department independently from the leadership team. They need to have fully adopted the vision of the company such that they feel a sense of ownership and drive.
From Task to Vision
When this happens, mid-managers elevate from task orientation (“here’s what needs to happen next”) to vision orientation (“here’s who we are, why we do what we do, and what success means to us”). A strong mid-manager level that is vision-oriented will help determine the plan and, more importantly, make sure it’s executed successfully.
The benefits go beyond achieving results:
- People across the business start feeling more supported, challenged, and excited to be surrounded by people they love working with
- Everyone gains more time to focus on what really matters instead of reacting to crises or getting bogged down in meaningless busywork
- Team members have the room to elevate their craft, becoming more masterful, autonomous, and fulfilled professionally
- People feel free to truly enjoy true work-life balance by taking real vacations, leaving work on time, and coming back refreshed
To go the distance, you have to play at the next level down. If you’re on the leadership team, that means setting up the mid-managers to be self-managing too. And if you’re a department head, it means you can’t stop once you’ve built your direct team; their people need to step up as well.
This is why it’s so crucial to get the structure of the entire organization right and then fill it with the right people. For example, if a department head is having trouble attracting and retaining talent, the problem may be with their leadership and management capabilities.
Related Reading: How to Get the Right People in the Right Seats
How to Level-Up Mid-Managers
Rolling out EOS to the mid-manager tier is what makes the difference. It’s the key to turning alignment into execution and empowering leaders at every level to own the vision, drive results, and build healthier teams. Here’s how:
- Each department head runs both the weekly Level 10 Meeting and the Quarterly Meeting Pulse with their team
- Every department maintains a Scorecard that is reported on weekly to drive accountability and discipline
- Teams own 1 to 3 quarterly Rocks that are reported on weekly and reviewed at the end of each quarter
- Teams keep an active issues list, reviewed weekly, where problems are prioritized and solved at the root
- The company maintains a clear accountability chart for the department to stay aligned on structure, roles, and open seats
By rolling out EOS and overcoming these struggles, leaders are equipped to grow and evolve. And as they elevate, their direct reports elevate too. A strong mid-manager level will help the company achieve its potential and create new capabilities that expand its future potential.
Explore the EOS Academy
Even the best leadership team can only go so far if the rest of the organization is stuck in old habits. EOS Academy helps you operationalize your vision throughout the entire business to give every leader, at every level, the tools they need to manage with confidence and clarity.
Whether you’re rolling out EOS to your departments or building the next layer of leadership, EOS Academy delivers just-in-time learning that’s built for the real world: simple, actionable, and grounded in the Six Key Components.
No jargon. No filler. Just practical tools and short, targeted lessons that help your team execute EOS purely and powerfully.
Thousands of companies running on EOS use the Academy to boost accountability, solve problems faster, and build real leadership muscle throughout the organization. Ready to do the same? Create your free account today.
