The squeeze:

When there is not a common understanding of the realities within an organisation, a team leader can be sandwiched between ensuring the service is responsive to the local context and the associated needs of their staff, and competing organisational and political pressures – creating added and unnecessary stress for the team leads.

The team leader will cop flak from both sides. They are stuck in the middle. Kate Brady – Australian Red Cross

I was in a difficult position with divided loyalties between head office and the people in the area - local staff and the community. We have a saying itabasami which translates to 'a fish sandwiched between two boards' which is like the English 'piggy in the middle'. Anon - Japan