Working to further the goals of senior leadership for mutual benefit is known as “Managing Up” and it’s not just a tactic to use every once in a while. It’s the philosophy that is behind observable behaviors that frame your actions to make sure that those leading you feel as supported and as energized by your efforts as those that you lead.
What skills are needed to manage up well?
- Clarity About What Matters Most - The first thing you need to know is what your leaders are working to accomplish. Understanding what’s important is essential. It is not about what gets done today, or this week or even the quarterly metrics - it is knowing how they view the big picture and how they plan to achieve their vision. Solving a specific problem, making a pivot of the focus on the business, shifting the culture, or making a new product or service more visible, you need to know what it is they are aiming for.
- Connect With Many - If managing up with your boss is good (and it is) knowing the vision and goals of multiple senior leaders is even better. You can miss opportunities if you narrow your focus. When you learn about the goals and motivations of others in senior positions. The more you know about what those in senior positions are trying to accomplish, the more you can chose actions that contribute to the overall success of the organization. That adds to your reputation with many rather than only a few.
- Develop Relationships - Make a point of developing and nurturing personal relationships with senior leaders. You are in a better position to coordinate your efforts when you know someone’s’ motivations. Building an authentic rapport can keep you in their line of sight.
- Collect Support - Work on being able to present your ideas so that people can work to mutual benefit and connect those goals to the larger picture. If you are working to support others, they are more likely to turn around and support you. It is often the case that when you genuinely work together, good things happen for both of you.
- Share Information - Make sure you keep your stakeholders informed. Few people like workplace surprises and senior leaders don’t like to be seen as not ‘in the know.’ A good way to support senior leaders is making certain they have the right info at the right time. Keeping leaders looped in goes a long way to being seen as a valued resource.
Managing up does not mean being someone who always agrees and say ‘yes,’ Most leaders have an interest in having mutually beneficial relationships with hard working professionals who see the big picture. People who are eager to gain support for their ideas often start with a plan to manage up effectively.
If you put energy into consistently and visibly furthering the ideas of managers, it make you a better manager. And you may find that managing up is not all that different from just managing! Good management works in every direction.
