Nowadays, employees in mid-level organizational positions have higher rates of depression and anxiety than all the other hierarchy’s positions. Why ? Because they have to face assertiveness and deference, being a leader and being a subordinate. This becomes problematic in many cases, when you are called upon to play both roles, switching in every conversation. It is psychologically challenging to disengage one mindset, in order to engage another task that requires a different one.
Aric M. Anicich and Jacob B. Hirsh develop this important subject and submit six relevant recommandations in their article : Why being a Middle Manager is so exhausting, published on HBR.org.