Episode 1: How to Stay in Control Without Controlling People

Written By Bobby McGraw

Leadership can feel like walking a tightrope—expectations are high, feedback is rare, and support is often missing. In this first episode of The Third Option Leadership Podcast, host Bobby McGraw sits down with Dean Harbry and Janalee Rainwater from the Middle Way Institute to explore a central leadership tension:

👉 How do you stay in control without controlling people?

Together they unpack:

  • The difference between influence and manipulation

  • Why some leaders drift toward abuse (dominating) or abandon (detaching)—and how to find the Middle Way

  • The role of executive presence and emotional intelligence in building trust and consistency

  • How to give feedback that’s firm but not harsh, clear but not cold

  • The “balcony metaphor” — how to step out of the drama and lead with calm objectivity

Whether you lead a team, a business, or a congregation, this episode will help you regain balance, reduce stress, and grow your influence by leading from the middle.

📍 Learn more about Middle Way Institute or join a free Leadership as a Profession call at middlewayinstitute.com.

Bobby McGraw www.bobbymcgraw.com
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Episode 2: Staying in the Balcony: How to Lead with Emotional Poise