An exceptional job of refocusing the middle manager's role?a must read for practitioners and educators alike. --Jack Viega, editor, The Academy of Management Executives In their quest to become leaner, flatter, and reengineered, organizations have systematically cut out the very positions that once made them successful?mid-level managers. In The Strategic Middle Manager,management experts Steven Floyd and Bill Wooldridge draw on a decade of research involving over 250 middle managers to demonstrate that the success of future organizations rests decisively on strong middle management. The authors present the tools managers need to: Redefine their roles Increase their strategic value Secure their futures Identify the top performers in the ranks...and much more! Far from lacking perspective, middle managers have a unique, pivotal perspective that places them at the forefront of organizational change. They can play the role of champion, synthesizer, facilitator, and implementer--and this book gives the advice needed to energize management. A must-read for training professionals, managers, and top executives, Floyd and Wooldridge's work will radically redesign--and drastically improve--your organization's effectiveness.