When You Have the Weight But Not the Authority
How to Lead Strong from the Middle Seat
A Second Chair leader we work with once joked,
"I’m the one held responsible when things go wrong… but I still need permission to order office supplies."
It was funny, until it wasn’t.
Because that tension is real.
You carry weight.
But you don’t always have authority.
And that can leave you stuck, frustrated, second-guessing, or quietly stewing in your seat.
So how do you lead with clarity and confidence when you’re not holding the final call?
Let’s talk about it.
The Reality of Second Chair Leadership
Second Chair leaders live in what we call “the blurry zone”, where the responsibility is high, the expectations are vague, and the authority is… inconsistent.
- You’re trusted with vision execution, but not always invited into vision creation.
- You’re expected to make decisions, but often have to check in first.
- You feel the weight of the team, but don’t always control the outcomes.
This is more than a leadership frustration, it’s a leadership risk.
If left unaddressed, this gap between expectation and empowerment creates resentment, burnout, or disengagement.
But when addressed?
It becomes one of the most powerful growth zones for you and your First Chair.
How to Lead Through the Gap
Here are three ways to lead effectively when the weight is heavy, but the authority is light:
1. Clarify What You Actually Own
You may not have final say but you can have clear lanes.
Sit down with your First Chair and define:
- What decisions are mine to make?
- What decisions require alignment?
- What’s helpful for you to be informed about but not involved in?
Pro Tip: Use a simple “Decision Ownership Map” to clarify these buckets.
2. Lead With Initiative, Not Assumption
Don’t wait for authority to start leading.
Bring solutions, not just problems.
Create prototypes.
Run scenarios.
Show your First Chair what trust looks like in action.
Because trust often follows initiative, not permission.
3. Make the Win Bigger Than Your Ego
It’s tempting to default to frustration:
"Why don’t they just let me lead?"
But the mission is bigger than your role.
If your first instinct is to fight for control, pause.
Start by fighting for clarity.
And build the kind of steady presence that makes authority a natural outcome—not a political one.
ASK YOURSELF:
Where are you carrying weight but lacking clarity?
What decision or tension do you need to clarify with your lead?
Are you focused on getting credit or getting traction?
Want Help Defining What You Actually Own?
Grab our free coaching tool:
Second Chair Clarity Guide - a framework to define your leadership lane.
Or, if you’re tired of feeling caught in the middle, book a free Discovery Call to get practical support and a plan for how to lead well, even when power dynamics get weird.
Because the middle seat doesn’t mean you’re stuck.
It means you’re in position to stabilize the whole thing.
Two Chairs | One Mission
Where trust grows and leadership multiplies.
