A retired U.S. Coast Guard officer, I currently teach/facilitate leadership classes and workshops. I chaired the Commandant’s Innovation Council, encouraging “Coasties” to develop creative solutions to agency challenges, and after retiring, conducted research to improve organizational performance through innovation and empowering the workforce. I’ve observed challenges faced and overcome by dedicated, creative federal employees as a co-coach and while serving on the Excellence in Government Fellows Alumni Board. I’m passionate about helping people ‘lead from the middle’ to exert positive influence and achieve extraordinary results. I’ve been a keynote speaker, served on discussion panels, led workshops, and written articles on how people can ‘lead from the middle’, exert positive influence and achieve results beyond their ‘formal authority’. If you have a great story of someone ‘leading from the middle’ and are willing to share, I’d love to hear it! Geoff