A woman with glasses and long hair in a black top, looking to the side, is part of an infographic with colorful horizontal stripes and text. The text says, 'The work no one sees is often the work everything depends on.'

The Messy Middle Matters

Making sense of the hidden dynamics shaping modern organizations.

Organizations are always sending signals. Some are obvious. Most are subtle.

The Messy Middle Matters is where I explore the hidden dynamics shaping how organizations actually work—from invisible work and decision-making to leadership, change, and the patterns that emerge when people build together.

Through the podcast, my writing, and public speaking, I help leaders, operators, and builders make sense of what they're already seeing but may not yet have words for.

Listen to the Podcast
Read Indra's Writing
See Speaking Topics

Whether you're listening to the podcast, reading an essay, or exploring a keynote, the goal is the same: to help you see your organization differently.

Because once you begin noticing these patterns, it's hard to unsee them.

Listen to the Podcast

Apple | iHeart | Overcast | PocketCasts | Spotify | YouTube | All Other Platforms

Featured Conversation

A split-screen image of two women wearing glasses, smiling and speaking into microphones. The left woman has shoulder-length dark hair and is wearing a black shirt, and the right woman has blonde hair, wears large headphones, and glasses. The top text reads, "It sounds like empowerment but it's actually avoidance." The bottom text says, "The Messy Middle Matters," with episode 39 labeled, and a small microphone icon. There is also a pink label with white text that says, "w/ Amanda Jane Lee."

Ep 39: It Sounds Like Empowerment, But It's Actually Avoidance

When leaders call it empowerment but mean "figure it out yourself" — that's not collaboration. That's avoidance with better branding.

Listen Now →

Be a Guest

The best conversations begin with people who have noticed something others haven't.

If your work has changed the way you think about leadership, organizations, or the hidden dynamics that shape them, I'd love to hear your story.

Learn more about the podcast, the format, and what makes for a great conversation.

Support the Podcast

Interested in sponsoring, collaborating, or supporting thoughtful conversations about leadership and organizational change?

Let’s talk. Reach out at: podcast@themessymiddlematters.com

Public Speaking

Some ideas are best explored in conversation. Others need a room full of people.

My talks help leaders recognize the hidden dynamics shaping their organizations and give them practical language for making sense of change together.

A woman with long hair, glasses, and a denim jacket giving a keynote address in front of a light-colored wall.

Nobody Asked Us

Recognizing the Patterns That Shape Organizational Change

Organizations are always sending signals. This keynote helps leaders recognize the patterns hiding in plain sight, interpret what they mean, and build shared understanding before small problems become expensive ones.

Visit indraspeaks.com for more info →

Book cover titled 'Nobody Asked Us' by Indra Klavings about recognizing organizational change patterns.
A woman giving a presentation at a conference with a green sign that reads "Design Operations New York" and details about the event on May 25, 2023.
A woman in a red dress standing on stage in front of a large screen that reads 'Expensive Routers Create Connections' at a conference.
A woman in a red dress giving a presentation on stage at the DesignOps Summit, with an audience seated in a theater-style auditorium.

Substack

Instagram

Death by a thousand cuts.
How do you experience executive language?
Just because work is labeled “soft” doesn’t mean it’s easy. In many organizations, the hardest work to do well is the work that: – reduces confusion – builds trust – aligns priorities – manages ambigu
Some photographers focus on what they see, but the best ones also show us why and how their subjects matter. Lindsey Lerner captures her subjects not just with her camera, but also through her writing and spoken word. She calls these sessions Field
What are you outgrowing? What would it take to say it out loud?
If you want to know what an organization actually values, don’t read the strategy. Watch what gets rewarded.
The messy middle isn’t a layer. It’s what shows up when ambiguity, ownership, and decision-making don’t have a clear home. So the work lands… somewhere. Usually on people. #themessymiddle #themessymiddlematters
I had to create an AI-generated headshot for a grant application. Looks like I’ll need hair extensions now. All I can think about are the tangles in my hair, in systems, in organizations… #themessymiddlematters #messymiddlematters #me
The platforms are getting better. The tools are real. But no system has figured out how to automate ambiguity, negotiation, or the part where you have to deal with other people. Coordination is a people problem. Always has been. Full post on Subst
One of my goals this year is to become a more effective communicator. I want to be not only clearer, but also more confident in how I present myself and share my work. So when I saw an Instagram ad for a women’s public speaking bootcamp, I tho

About Indra

Indra Klavins is an organizational strategist, executive advisor, speaker, and certified mediator who studies how organizations work.

Over the past twenty years, she's helped leaders navigate growth, restructuring, leadership transitions, and organizational change by making sense of the hidden dynamics that shape organizations from the inside out.

She's the founder of People, Process, Things and the host of The Messy Middle Matters podcast, where she explores the patterns that help leaders see their organizations differently.

More About Indra →

Black and white portrait of a woman with glasses and hoop earrings, looking to her left.