If You’re Stuck in the Middle, You’re Not Alone

Written By Cari Borden

For the quiet heroes holding it together while wondering if it’s all falling apart.

There’s a strange space between thriving and barely surviving. It’s called the middle.

You know the place. where you’re not new, but you’re not the decision-maker. You’re expected to be the bridge, the buffer, the babysitter of burnout. You’ve got enough responsibility to feel the weight, but not enough power to move the needle.

And the kicker? No one warns you about this place.

They tell you to “grow into leadership.” They just don’t tell you that growth feels a lot like standing in the middle of a crosswalk while traffic comes from every direction. Left, right, up, down, emails, meetings, escalations, unspoken expectations. You don’t know whether to sprint, standstill, or scream into a pillow.

But before you spiral, let me say this loud for the people in the back:

If you’re stuck in the middle, you’re not lost. You’re in progress.

Middle Doesn’t Mean Mediocre

Being in the middle doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re becoming. Growth is rarely glamorous. It’s awkward, it’s unrecognized, and it’s usually where the best lessons live.

This is the zone where resilience is forged, emotional intelligence is tested, and your values get loud. It’s the space where you learn how to manage up and support down, often in the same conversation. It’s where you learn to speak CEO and frontline, all before your second coffee.

Middle Managers, Mid-Career Professionals, and the Mid-Life Maybes

This isn’t just about job titles, it’s about identity.

Maybe you’re mid-career and wondering if this is it.
Maybe you’re a middle manager juggling team needs and upper leadership agendas.
Maybe you’re mid-life and the personal and professional are blurring into one exhausting blur.

Wherever your “middle” is, don’t shame yourself for not being at the top yet. Some of the best leaders I know stayed in the middle long enough to learn how to lead with their humanity intact.

Here’s What You Can Do While You’re in the Middle:

🔹 Reflect Without Regret – Look back only to learn, not to linger.
🔹 Redefine Growth – Promotions are just one form of progress. So is peace.
🔹 Ask Better Questions – Instead of “Why am I stuck?” try “What am I learning here?”
🔹 Find Your People – Mentors, allies, those who’ve survived the middle and lived to tell the tale.
🔹 Speak Up – You may be in the middle, but your voice still matters. Start using it like it does.

This Is Temporary, But the Lessons Are Permanent

Don’t let this season of uncertainty convince you it’s your destination. The middle is messy, but it’s where movements start, empathy is built, and transformation begins.

If you’re feeling unseen, undervalued, or unsure, know this: You’re not alone. You’re exactly where a lot of us have been. And where many great leaders started.

Because the middle is where you learn how to rise.

💬 Call to Action:

Need help navigating your “middle”?
I’ve been there. And I built a path forward.
Let’s grow through it—find me on Fiverr or subscribe to the blog for real talk, leadership tools, and survival tips for the modern workplace.