“Managing up” is a concept that is often suggested as a way for employees to bridge gaps between their own role and the role of their manager to ensure everything runs smoothly. Some might imagine that managing up is only necessary when dealing with a leader who is micromanaging, insisting on employees working overtime or providing confusing feedback. Others believe managing up unfairly places the onus on the employee to do their boss’s job of assessing their performance and noting areas in need of improvement—essentially, reading the manager’s mind.
In reality, managing up won’t help correct issues involving poor management. The ability to manage up depends on having a good manager to begin with—one whose style and behavior can be leveraged by employees to help them excel in their roles while simultaneously making the manager’s job easier. Below, 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council explain what managing up means to them and how embracing it (or not) can impact a professional’s career in both positive and negative ways.
Forbes Coaches Council members share ways ‘managing up’ can impact a professional’s career.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Not Speaking Up About Your Needs Can Lead To Burnout
While managing up is certainly about managing the relationship, ensuring alignment around goals and anticipating your superior’s needs, it is also about negotiation, giving feedback and setting expectations and boundaries. A failure to respectfully speak up about your needs and/or see yourself as someone with the power to influence upward can lead to frustration, burnout and poor execution. – Eugene Dilan, DILAN Consulting Group
2. Collaborative Decision-Making Can Build Mutual Respect
Managing up means working on mutually agreed-upon goals and collaborating on decision-making. It requires developing a relationship based on mutual respect, and it requires one to be anticipatory. It involves viewing work through a systems lens and bringing solutions that consider the people, process, customers and financial resources. These are attributes of strong leaders, and practice makes perfect. – Vanita Bellen, True North Coaching and Consulting
3. Knowing Your Boss’s Preferences Helps You Meet Expectations
Your boss is key to your success at work. They choose your projects, impact your visibility and influence your career. When done well, managing up means knowing how they like to work and delivering on it. Get to know their communication preferences and adjust yours for greater understanding. Know when to keep them in the loop and when to work independently. Clearly understand and meet their expectations. – Loren Margolis, Training & Leadership Success LLC
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4. Connecting With Superiors Helps You Better Support Them
Rather than viewing it through a work lens, managing up should be seen as a process of creating a connection with your superiors. The intent should be seen as becoming a partner in the success of higher-ups and supporting them in their journeys as well. The connection is created not by discussing work but by understanding their drivers and needs, which is true for any human-to-human connection. – Rajat Garg, Coach-To-Transformation
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
5. Anticipating Your Manager’s Next Move Helps To Avoid Surprises
I define managing up as the ability to anticipate your manager’s next move and then plan or act accordingly. It helps to avoid unexpected surprises and puts you in a position of having the agency to direct or influence. It builds your capacity to manage change, exercise empathy and solve problems quickly. – Leang Chung, Pelora Stack
6. Engaging In Two-Way Communication Provides Value All Around
Managing up is a critical factor of success for young professionals. Knowing what it is and isn’t is an important first step. It is not management or oversight of the boss. It is two-way communication, providing input and asking pertinent questions. When done well, managing up provides value to the boss, the team and the organization. It is a skill that can be practiced and developed. – Lindsay Miller, Reverie Organizational Development Specialists
7. Having Your Efforts Misperceived Can Mute Career Development
Managing up means being a change agent who strives for diversity, equity and inclusion. It creates a culture of awareness, openness, healthy debate and, of course, transformation across management structures when positively done. Potential negative impacts include that it may cause misperceptions, biases and judgments to be created about the employee, leading to stigma and muted career development. Always test the waters. – Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
8. Seeking To Lighten Your Boss’ Load Helps Everyone Win
In my opinion, managing up is less about taking responsibility for your boss’ role and performance and more about seeking to lighten your boss’s load. If your boss succeeds, so will the organization, and so will you. The goal is for the organization to win, and the more you take off your boss’ plate, the more likely that win is to happen. – Cole Taylor, The Starting Line
9. Being Mindful Of How You’re Perceived Helps To Highlight Your Contribution
Managing up means that we need to always be mindful of how we are perceived by those above us in the hierarchy. It does not mean that we should feel responsible for the job duties and tasks of our boss. Establish clear professional boundaries early and often. Help your boss understand what you are doing to contribute to the team and, thereby, how you’re helping them to be successful. – Jonathan H. Westover, Utah Valley University & Human Capital Innovations, LLC
10. Developing Relationships With Your Leaders Ensures Your Voice Is Heard
Managing up is about developing powerful relationships with your leaders. It is an important skill set to support forward momentum. It builds adaptability, understanding of the needs of others and a healthy relationship with power, ensuring that your voice is heard. While great leaders manage up, down and across, managing up is an important skill for all. Even CEOs have to manage up with the board. – Jodie Charlop, Exceleration Partners
11. Displaying Leadership Skills Will Inspire Your Manager To Better Guide You
My definition of managing up is displaying leadership skills without being an actual leader. Young professionals need to develop this skill if they want professional growth. It is not taking on the duties of their manager; it’s showing they are accountable for their performance. The manager will provide guidance and constructive feedback as a result of the employee being self-regulated. – Michelle Perchuk, MTV Coaching
12. Proactively Informing Your Manager Can Lead To More Growth And Autonomy
Fair or unfair, the ability to communicate effectively your achievements, goals and ambitions to your manager is an essential skill for the upwardly mobile. Many leaders simply believe that “managing” their staff is unsavory and time-consuming. An employee who has their act together, proactively keeps their manager informed, and asks for guidance strategically will often find more growth and autonomy. – Scott Singer, Insider Career Strategies
13. Being Accountable And Self-Directing Builds Trust And Empowers You
Managing up is about empowerment. It means being accountable for the relationship with your boss, understanding that your performance impacts their success, and building trust and common goals. Managing up is self-directing; it builds trust and is a sign of professional maturity that will allow a boss to learn more about an employee and how to effectively support them in the development of their career. – Cathy Lanzalaco, Inspire Careers LLC
14. Communicating Your Value Can Help You Move Up Faster
In my experience, professionals who manage up well will move up faster. Managing up is not doing your boss’s job. Instead, it is your ability to communicate your value and report on key achievements to those above you. When leaders are made aware that you are someone who is contributing highly to the organization, you will be rewarded. It’s a must for any professional looking to move up. – Kimberly Svoboda, Aspiration Catalyst®
