About the Book
Leadership doesn’t start at the top— it starts with you.
Scaling Pyramids: Leadership Lessons from a Mid- Level Bureaucrat is an honest, engaging, and research- informed exploration of what it means to
lead from the bottom and middle of an organization— especially within complex systems that aren’t always built for innovation, agility, or humanity.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience as a federal law enforcement officer, diplomat, educator, and public servant, author Christopher Stitt brings a rare combination of street- level credibility and scholarly insight to the leadership conversation. Throughout the book, he weaves together personal stories from his global assignments with contemporary leadership research from behavioral science, organizational psychology, and decision- making theory.
The result is a practical and thought- provoking field guide for those who are tired of waiting for permission to lead— and ready to make a difference right where they are. In these pages, you’ll find lessons on how to influence up, down, and across your organization. You’ll learn how to build trust, coach others, think strategically, and maintain your integrity even when politics or process get in the way. You’ll discover why the middle of the organizational pyramid isnot a waiting room for the next promotion— it’s the center of gravity where culture, performance, and credibility are either built or broken.
Whether you’re managing teams in a government agency, navigating the corporate hierarchy, or trying to make change from within a large institution, Scaling Pyramids offers you a road map grounded in both lived experienc and real evidence. With a voice that is both candid and deeply practical, Stitt reminds us that leadership isn’t about rank— it’s about showing up, stepping up, and speaking up in the moments that matter.
If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underutilized, or underestimated in your role, this book is for you.
It’s time to lead. Not someday— now.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Why This Book, My Path Through My Bureaucracy
Part One – Leading Yourself
Understand Who Shaped You: Differing Role Models
Understanding Your Values: A Scout Is…
Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses: I May Like Computers Better Than People, But I Still Need People to Run the Computers
Understanding Limits: It’s Not a Stroke, Just a Migraine
Self-Care and Personal Growth: Take an Excursion, Get Some Perspective, Use Your Head in a New or Different Way
Manage Your Followership Style: Change Is Constant, Even in the Same Organization You Still Need to Make Adjustments
Managing Impressions – “Start Slowly, Then Taper Off”
Part Two – Leading Others
8. Differentiating Motivations: Employees Are Like Snowflakes, No Two Are the Same
9. Building Alliances: If You Want to Lead the Pack, You Need to Identify and Deal with the Alpha
10. Team Dynamics: Reprimand All to Punish No One?
11. Leadership Character: When Making Rules, Plan to Enforce Them
12. Developing Others: Be a Good Dungeon Master
13. How to Use Awards: “You Like Me, You Really, Really Like Me!”
14. Collaboration: The Spotlight Is Brighter When You Share It
Part Three – Leading Organizations
15. Communicating Up the Pyramid: We Need to Feed the Beast, but We Try to Give It Bites That It Can Chew
16. Communicating Vision: The Problem with Having a Vision Is Getting Others to See
17. Navigating the Pyramid: Managing Up Can Be Tough, Try Managing Sideways First, Then Up
18. Leveraging Project Teams: “I Am Not a Committee”
19. Building Relationships: Show Up, Even If You Aren’t Sure You Feel Like It
20. Simple Encouragement: Smile and Wave
21. Roadblocks: But What If the Section Head Is the Problem?
22. Having an Impact: Lead Well and Not Only Will People Follow You, They Will Name Their Children After You
23. Staying Motivated: Starting Is Easy, Finishing Is Another Story
Epilogue
About the Author :
Christopher Stitt is a former federal security and law enforcement leader with over 25 years of experience as a Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. He has held leadership roles in multiple countries and has served as an advisor to U.S. Ambassadors. He is the founder of CrisisLead, LLC, where he consults organizations on risk navigation and preparedness. He holds multiple professional certifications in security and emergency management and has a diverse academic background, including degrees in sociology, psychology, strategic intelligence, organizational presilience, and an Executive MBA.
Review :
In "Scaling Pyramids," Chris offers a candid and insightful exploration of the often-misunderstood world of bureaucracy. As his friend, I've had the privilege of witnessing his dedication and thoughtful approach to leadership. This book is a testament to his journey through the "Department of Pyramids," where he navigated the complexities of hierarchical structures while fostering a culture of accountability and efficiency.
Chris's experiences, from his early days as an entry-level employee to his mid-level management roles, are filled with valuable lessons on leadership and personal growth. He shares practical advice on understanding your values, managing your strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of self-care. His stories about leading others are equally compelling, offering strategies for building alliances, motivating employees, and developing leadership character.
What sets this book apart is Chris's ability to relate his experiences to broader organizational principles. Whether you're an entry-level employee or a mid-level manager, you'll find his insights on communicating vision, navigating the pyramid, and leveraging project teams incredibly useful. Chris's approach to leadership is both practical and inspiring, making this book a must-read for anyone in a leadership role, and those endeavoring to someday be.
Nick Anderson, CEO OneAccord
In my executive coaching work, I frequently encounter new professionals trying to understand how to manage teams and navigate a bureaucracy. Too often leadership books target senior level leaders managing down, but there is not enough support for the entry- or mid- level manager trying to manage up. In Scaling Pyramids, Chris dives into this conundrum with a practical guide containing real life lessons on how to navigate an organization and maximize influence.
Grounding his readers in tried and tested values, Chris balances his actual experience in crisis management with immediately applicable lessons on how to gain traction with fresh ideas, deal with the Alpha in an office, and stand out from the group while keeping the team in front. Whether it's responding to 9/11 while overseas or revamping an entirely new Department as a low level manager, Chris guides his readers with a fresh approach in how to apply leadership principles he has personally learned regardless of the complexity of the situation. Professionals will come away better equipped to manage their teams, navigate their bureaucracies, and find upward success while holding true to their values. A book not to be missed.
Stephanie Mikulasek, ServantEDGE Coaching
Former U.S. Diplomat
“I am a mid-level bureaucrat.” Christopher Stitt begins this book Scaling Pyramids with a startling statement given the socio-political environment we live in. What can I possibly learn from being stuck in the swamp? But what he discovers is that this is every man’s journey, every organization’s journey. And there is a way to navigate this human organizational construct that delivers purpose, dignity, and value.
Ron Worman, The Sage Group®
Chris’ portrayal of his lived experience as a mid-level government bureaucrat is a masterclass in navigating leadership challenges in both government and corporate settings. Leaders in the industry will identify with the challenges he describes and will take note of the best practices and solutions. This book is a simple to digest and good read for anyone embarking on their first leadership position in government or the private sector.
Brian Cooke, DSS Special Agent – Retired,
Fortune 25 company security leader,
Security & Intelligence Consultant
Who knew you could learn about leadership from a long-time mid-level government employee? You can when he's Christopher Stitt, a self-described bureaucrat who navigated his way to leadership--in practice and influence if not in title--during an impressive career at the Department of State.
To generalize his experiences, Stitt uses the playful "Department of Pyramids" as a stand-in for his actual employer. He mines his globetrotting governmental career to provide unexpected insights into leadership, tying in lessons from his youth as an Eagle Scout and a Dungeons & Dragons devotee. Nuggets of wisdom emerge from such far-flung posts in Central America and Africa.
With wit and warmth, Chris describes his journey and leaves helpful breadcrumbs for fellow bureaucrats with leadership aspirations. It's a compelling read from a charmingly earnest guide.
Michael Gips, Managing Director for ESRM at Kroll
Former Chief Knowledge Officer at ASIS International
#1Globally Ranked thought leader in security
