Forbes
5 Tips To Manage Up At Work
By: Caroline Castrillon
Maintaining an effective, productive working relationship with your boss is vital for your career. But it isn't always easy. Maybe you have a bad boss—the manager that publicly belittles subordinates, has explosive outbursts, or even accepts credit for others' successes. Or a boss who is just overwhelmed, overworked, or incompetent—basically just trying to keep their head above water. Or maybe a new boss, who has no clue what they’re doing. Whatever the case, it’s up to you to grab the reins and manage up at work. What is "managing up," you ask? According to Rosanne Badowski, coauthor of Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship With Those Above You, you need to go above and beyond the projects assigned to you so that you can augment your manager's work. "Doing what you can to make your manager's job easier will not only help them do their job, but you will be considered a valuable asset to your manager and to your organization," Badowski says. "You want to be described as indispensable." Here are five tips to manage up at work so you can win over your boss and help others within the organization recognize your true value.
Understand your manager’s style
One key way to manage up at work is to get to know your boss. What is their work style? Ask yourself questions like:
- Are they overbearing or more relaxed?
- Do they enjoy collaborating or micromanaging?
- Are they impulsive or more thoughtful when making decisions?
- Do they prefer to communicate via email or in-person?
- Are they mainly data-driven, or do they also rely on intuition?
- How often do they want updates—daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis?
Once you understand how your manager operates, you can adapt to your boss’s communication and decision-making style. One suggestion is to express yourself like your manager. Use the language and terms that they often use and focus on the topics that are most important to them. This will go a long way in developing a positive working relationship. The more you can match your style to your boss when communicating, the more they will really hear what you are saying.
Be proactive
Being able to avoid unwanted surprises and make your boss's life easier is something manager's value. The last thing your boss wants is to find out that an urgent priority fell through the cracks. The more you can anticipate problems as well as your manager’s needs, the more confidence and influence you will build. This approach will make a welcome impression and show that you are proactive. If you know that bad news is coming, alert your boss as soon as possible. The worst possible scenario is that your manager is the last to know. Take the initiative so that they are prepared and don’t get blindsided.
Know your manager’s goals
Another tip to manage up at work is to try and understand your manager’s goals and objectives. If you aren’t clear on what they are, don’t wait for your boss to take the lead. Set up a one-on-one meeting to get crystal clear on expectations. Once you understand those priorities, you can tailor the information you share during meetings. If you can assist your manager with accomplishing critical tasks, you will demonstrate that you are dependable and decisive, two fundamental traits that managers look for in their employees.
Respect your manager’s time
In order to manage up at work, learn the best times to engage with your boss and plan your meetings for those times. Rather than come to your manager whenever you have a question, schedule a weekly one on one and address your issues then. Take charge by crafting an agenda for your meetings, so you stay on track. Lead the discussion, document action items, and follow up accordingly.
Speak up when needed
The relationship with your boss is a two-way street, so don't hesitate to provide feedback when needed. For example, is one of your coworkers failing to pull their weight? Does the entire team have too much work on their hands? Managing up at work means speaking up when you need to. Don't let problems fester out of control. Instead, let your boss know politely and helpfully. They will appreciate your initiative and forthrightness.
These days, it’s not enough to just let your work speak for itself. If you want to receive stellar performance reviews, significant raises, and tremendous opportunities for career growth, mastering the process of managing up at work is essential. Remember, it's also an ongoing process. Once you communicate openly, ask the right questions, and think from the perspective of your manager, you’ll be amazed at the results.
