How to Manage Up to Move Up at Work
How to Manage Up to Move Up at Work
by Carolyn A. Patterson-Kemper, M.S., CMP, DES – Vice President, Head of Events, Chevy Chase Trust; 2023-2024 MPI Potomac Chapter Board of Directors – Vice President, Communications; MPI Potomac Chapter Leadership Committee – Member
While not everyone might be a manager in the workplace, everyone has a responsibility to manage their work relationships, especially with their supervisor. Future leaders might focus on sharpening their skills in a niche area but often overlook the importance of preparing to be effective managers.
Developing and building a strong manager-employee relationship is crucial for both business impact and job satisfaction. Both you and your boss must shoulder the responsibility of making the relationship a success.
Learning how to manage up before becoming a boss is key to career advancement and climbing the corporate ladder. Let’s dive into what managing up means, how to do it effectively and its benefits.
What is Managing Up and Why is it Important?
Simply put, managing up is the ability to work efficiently with your manager. It’s lightening the load of your boss; in turn, making your job easier as well as theirs. It’s creating value and clear two-way communication.
How do you Manage Up?
Managing up can take a variety of forms.
- Understand your supervisor’s pain points, processes and priorities.
This doesn’t mean you have to know their calendar verbatim but paying close attention and observing what is top-of-mind can help you know where to lend greater support and determine the best way to offer your perspective. Learn what matters to your boss to help them succeed.
- Discover your boss’s decision-making and communication styles.
Does your manager prefer to interact by phone, virtually or in person? Do they like to get straight to the point? If so, cut the small talk and keep your comments and emails concise. Ask strategic questions like, ‘What else can I help you with?” Try anticipating their likely response but document their answers. Actively listen and with intent to avoid misunderstanding.
- Know when your manager is most productive.
If your boss is not a morning person and doesn’t like to arrive at the office before 10 a.m., it may not be wise to schedule an 8 a.m. meeting with them! Know when your boss peaks to get the most effective use of their time and attention.
- Be proactive in identifying potential learning opportunities that help you engage more effectively.
Don’t wait for your boss to ask you to start a task, project or assignment. Take the initiative, look for ways to save them time and serve as an important contributor.
Benefits of Managing Up
Mobilizing your boss can help keep him/her on schedule and identify potential gaps. Upward communication can also position you to become a strategic thought leader and team player who focuses on results.
We all want to be viewed as team players — but being a problem finder and problem solver can also facilitate leadership influence and persuasion. Bringing solutions to your boss instead of problems will differentiate you from the pack.
Managing up can unveil what type of manager you want to be (and not be) and can set you on the path to career success. Developing the art of managing up can transform you from being just another employee to the team member your boss goes to for the tough challenges and growth opportunities.
Now that you have a clear understanding of what managing up is and why it’s important in addition to learning some actionable tips, it’s time to put it into practice!