I first heard the phrase “Managing Up” as a very eager senior in college at a PRSSA conference I attended back in 2020. The term managing up is, in essence, making your boss’s job easier and helping your team reach goals through anticipated needs, proactive communication and relationship building. At the height of COVID-19, I was anxious to secure a job post-graduation because the job market was so uncertain, but I remember feeling like the speaker was giving me the “secret recipe” to success.
Now, as a young professional with some managerial experience under my belt, I want to pass that secret recipe along to you. Here are five tips to help you “manage up”:
1. Lighten Their Workload
Managing up isn’t about taking on your supervisor’s responsibilities; it’s about making their job easier. Anticipate the needs that will arise, complete tasks efficiently and offer support. Doing this helps you contribute to the team’s success and allows you to earn trust.
2. Learn Their Preferences
Understand how your leader likes to communicate and receive information. Whether they prefer emails, a quick office visit or a detailed report, adapting to their style of communication demonstrates care and helps collaboration run smoothly.
3. Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Even if you’re not in a formal leadership role, exhibit leadership qualities by being proactive and taking ownership of your work. This not only impresses your leadership team but also sets you apart as someone reliable, capable and up to a challenge.
4. Be Solution-Focused
If you’re bringing a problem to leadership, always come prepared with potential solutions. This shows that you are a problem solver – and that you respect your supervisor’s time and workload by offering solutions rather than just a list of problems that need to be addressed.
5. Stay Accountable
A former boss of mine once told me, “Share good news soon and bad news sooner.” When you take ownership of your mistakes from the get-go, it allows you to learn and grow into your position. Being accountable means acknowledging your role in both successes and failures. This builds trust with your leadership and your team to foster a supportive working relationship.
Managing up isn’t just a one-time effort. It’s a continuous practice that can lead to substantial personal and professional growth. What may have seemed like a secret recipe is now a fundamental part of your professional toolkit to help you grow in your career. Here’s to you taking charge and making a positive impact on your workplace!