Master the Art of Managing Up | by Multiverse Learning Team

Managing up is optimising your relationship with your immediate manager for maximum productivity, and is a crucial skill for anyone who wants to thrive in the professional world. It involves building a positive and productive relationship with your manager, building an understanding of their communication style, anticipating their needs, and striving to make their job easier. As a digital apprentice, you have a unique opportunity to develop this skill early on in your career. Here's a practical guide on how to manage up effectively.

Understand Your Manager

One of the first steps in managing up is getting to know your manager. Each manager has a different style and personality, as we all do. Understanding their style will help you adapt your approach accordingly.

As an apprentice, you're in a unique position to observe and learn. Ask your manager how they would like to engage in communication, to get a sense of their communication style, their preferences, and their expectations. If they're more comfortable with email updates rather than in-person meetings, respect that. If they prefer to be involved in every decision, keep them in the loop. The following diagram could provide a starting point for considering your options. 

Be Proactive and Reliable

Anticipating your manager's needs can make you an indispensable asset. Look ahead for potential problems and work to actively prevent them. If you notice a risk or a problem, don't just bring it to your manager's attention, come prepared with potential solutions. This shows initiative and reduces the burden on your manager.

Reliability is another key trait in managing up. Delivering high-quality work on time, every time is a surefire way to earn your manager's trust. Be the person they can count on when they need something done right.

Communicate Effectively

Timely and open communication is at the heart of managing up. This helps to set an expected working cadence, delineate boundaries, and set realistic expectations of the working relationship.  Keep your manager updated on your progress, share good news as soon as possible, and deliver bad news even sooner. This prevents any unwanted surprises and allows your manager to be part of the solution. Setting agendas and providing updates is an excellent way to facilitate this. (See Appendix for two agenda templates with modelled examples)

Remember, effective communication is a two-way street. Make sure you understand your manager's instructions and expectations. If something is unclear, ask questions. Also, don't be afraid to share your preferred communication style and way of working. A good manager will appreciate your initiative and adaptability.

Build a Strong Relationship

Trust and relationship building are critical for managing up. This involves showing appreciation, facilitating feedback, and having honest (even if difficult) conversations. Start building these relationships before you need them. Being self-directed and consistently doing good work will go a long way in earning your manager's respect.

Be Adaptable and Strategic

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, being adaptable is not just beneficial—it's essential. Show your flexibility by adjusting your work and communication style to fit your manager's preferences, company culture, and working ecosystem. Demonstrate your strategic thinking by aligning your priorities with those of your manager and the organization.

Develop Essential Skills

Managing up requires a unique set of skills. This includes strategic planning, decision-making, prioritizing, multitasking, and being proactive. Additionally, skills like collaboration and stakeholder management are crucial for navigating the organizational environment. There are many resources available to develop this skill (see the referenced material at the end of this article), however, the dynamic nature of workplace culture requires that you also bring your own authenticity and innovations to new roles. Develop the foundational aspects of this skill, but don’t be afraid to innovate as well!

What if my manager is difficult to work with? 

Everyone will inevitably face a difficult working relationship at some point in their career. Oftentimes this difficulty is simply down to personality or working styles, and if proper attention is given to successfully navigating the relationship, the difficulty is nearly always surmountable. Below are a few examples of difficult management styles, as well as a short set of techniques to help you overcome them. 

Next Steps

Research Managing up further through the suggested reading resources. 

Recommended reading: Available on Perlego or from online booksellers. Don't forget to activate your 3-month library access exclusive to Multiverse members here.

Brownlee, D. (2019). The Unwritten Rules of Managing Up. Oakland, CA: Berret-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

Harvard Business Review Press. (2014). Managing Up: 20 Minute Manager Series. Boston, Massacheusetts: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation.

Abbajay, M. (2018). Managing Up. Hoboken, New Jersey: Careerstone Group, LLC.

This article was written by the Multiverse Learning Team. Find our full Managing Up Guide here.