“Managing up” has long been a part of the vernacular in the professional world, but what is it exactly? Depending on whom you ask, the definition may vary. Some believe managing up is when employees create positive and meaningful relationships with their direct managers and upper-level management. Others say it’s just about making your boss’s job easier. Ultimately, managing up involves learning how best to communicate with your manager and fulfill deliverables. If done well, managing up can have many positive results. Here’s why.
You Can Create Strong Relationships
In today’s workplace, you don’t just arrive at the office, do your job, and go home. You’re expected to be an active member of the team and create positive relationships — most importantly with your manager. By managing up you discover more about your manager, including their communication style, how they respond in difficult situations, and their expectations of the team. Your manager is the person who will support you, assign your projects, and provide professional development, so forging a strong relationship can also lead to more opportunities for work you are passionate about.
You Can Create Respect and Appreciation
A recent Gallup study noted that the manager alone accounts for 70 percent of variance in team engagement. Creating a strong relationship with your manager can help garner their respect and appreciation for the work you do. Ultimately, this leads to increased employee engagement and satisfaction, which can make you a more productive and positive employee.
It Allows You to Move Up
Just because you enjoy the work you’re currently doing doesn’t mean you’ll be happy doing it forever. According to a recent WorkHuman poll, approximately half of employees are looking for a promotion or a raise. By managing up, you ensure that your manager is aware of the work you produce, sees the positive results you are achieving, and keeps you top of mind when a new opportunity opens.
It Ensures Clear Communication
Not every manager has the same communication style. Once you determine what your manager’s is, make sure that you interact with them accordingly. You want to connect with them in a way they'll be most receptive to so there is no room for miscommunication. Studies show that employees who have good relationships and strong communication with their managers are happier and more satisfied at work.
It Helps You to Understand What Your Boss Is Working On
Over the course of nearly 20 years in human resources, I’ve had multiple employees tell me they don’t know what their managers do all day. This sentiment is typically highlighted by employees who do not have strong relationships with their managers, and rarely, if ever, communicate with them in any meaningful way. Managing up allows you to open the lines of communication with your manager not only to help them understand what you are working on, but also to help you gain insight on their focus. This knowledge allows you to better prioritize your own workload and informs how you can best support your manager. All this knowledge can lead to a more positive and productive working relationship.
Managing up is a skill, just like having difficult conversations or using new technology. Be patient — it can take time to understand how to navigate the relationship with your manager and other senior members of your organization. Putting in the effort, though, can reap amazing benefits that help make you a happier, more productive, and more engaged member of the team.
ON TOPIC
Ready to take control of your career? Start by establishing a good working relationship with your manager. As you successfully manage up, you will gain your manager’s respect and confidence — your best assets for advancing your career. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin to manage your manager.
Get to know your boss. In order to effectively communicate with your boss — and understand what they want from you — consider their goals, their priorities, their preferred communication style, and how their history impacts their decisions.
Learn how your manager sees you. Unless you were hired for a particular role on a project, you may need to have a conversation with your manager to fully understand what they expect from you. Be sure to come across as investigative and respectful, not prying and demanding. You could also request time to learn about their own past experiences and current goals. Finally, you could take a direct approach and ask how and when they prefer to receive updates. Your boss will likely appreciate that you’re considering their perspective, and you’ll show them that you’re proactive and motivated.
Don’t manipulate. Presenting fake positivity, unrealistic projections, or simply being a sycophant won’t get you far. In fact, it can backfire as others will likely perceive you as untrustworthy. Instead, be supportive and friendly — but only if it’s genuine.
Always be honest. No one wants to mess up, but everyone does at some point. Resist any temptation to cover up a mistake or blame others. Instead, own the situation. By speaking up immediately, you will help rectify the problem sooner and establish your reputation as honest and mature.
Avoid office politics. It's important to stay professional when interacting with coworkers. Steer clear of choosing favorites or forming alliances with colleagues who are untrustworthy. There’s no room for prejudice or pettiness in the workplace. Do your best to be open-minded and fair to the whole team, including your boss.
