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15 Top Tips to Manage Up

Managing up is about proactively developing productive and positive workplace relationships with our bosses, managers, and leaders. Whether we like it or not, our bosses have enormous influence over our ability to succeed, thrive, and advance in our organizations, in our careers, and in our own leadership journey. Establishing strong, productive working relationships with those above us is the single most effective way to accelerate success in any organization. Managing up is not about being a sycophant or a suck-up. Rather, it is about making an intentional effort to work well with those who have significant influence on your workplace experience. Whether you are reporting to a supervisor, middle manager, VP, top executive, or a board of directors, the following tips will help you build a productive and positive working relationship with your boss!

1. Build the relationship/foster a partnership. Take the time to really build a relationship. Get to know your boss. Learn about who they are. Learn about what they’ve done. Have coffee now and then. Show them that you share their goals. Demonstrate that you can be counted on to achieve organizational priorities. Be a human being.
2. Know what really matters to your boss and give it to her. Is your boss big on punctuality? Then show up on time. Does your boss want to get promoted? Then find ways to help her climb the ladder. Does your boss want you to use the Oxford comma? Then learn what that is and use it.
3. Be aware of their hot buttons and pet peeves. Learn what they are and avoid them, even if you think they are stupid. Does your boss flip out when you don’t use the Oxford comma? For goodness’ sake, then use the Oxford comma!
4. Bring solutions, not problems. Always hand your boss proposed solutions instead of only problems. In fact, you should never bring a problem to your boss without at least one proposed solution. Presenting options is even better. Show your boss that you are a self-sufficient proactive problem solver.
5. No surprises. Try to avoid unpleasant surprises with your boss. Make them aware of everything that is important to their job, so that they can avoid surprising their boss.
6. Build and compensate. Recognize your boss’s strengths and build on them. Recognize their weaknesses and compensate for them. If your boss takes terrible notes or forgets to recap action items in a meeting, do it for them. You will be doing your boss, yourself, and the organization a favor.
7. Be a “can-do” employee. Take on challenges. Deliver on projects with a positive attitude. If your boss asks for help in a group setting, be the first to volunteer.
8. Make requests, not complaints. Inside every complaint is a request. Find it and make it.
9. Make your requests effective. Bosses aren’t mind readers. When you make a request, be clear about what you are requesting, what it would look like, and why it is important. Even better, show how your request is aligned with both your boss’s goals and priorities and those of your organization. Frame your request as a win-win-win.
10. Keep your boss informed. Don’t assume your boss knows about all your accomplishments. Take the time to keep them up-to-date and posted on your activities and accomplishments.
11. Speak up! Make sure your boss knows how to best use your skills and talents. Are you a whiz with words? Let your boss know. Are you great at networking? Let your boss know. Are you a spreadsheet queen? Let your boss know. Most importantly, let your boss know how your strengths, talents, and skills can help them and the organization be successful.
12. Be flexible. Organizations are constantly in flux. Priorities change. Goals shift. Urgent issues happen. Be flexible when you can and learn to adjust to ambiguity when necessary. Don’t be the person who can’t accept change.
13. Discuss delegation. When your boss delegates a project, ask up front about their expectations, wants, and needs. Find out how much autonomy you have in the project, how much input they want, and what kind of check-ins they need. Don’t guess—ask.
14. Solicit feedback. If you aren’t getting useful feedback, ask for it. Be specific about the kind of feedback you want and why you need it. Make it easy for the boss to know what you need. Develop skills for receiving feedback, both positive and constructive. Have a growth mindset when it comes to criticism. Adopt a learning attitude and request more specific information when feedback is vague. Feedback is a gift, even when critical. And the proper response to feedback—even critical—is always: “thank you.”
15. Have the conversation. Not sure what is important to your boss? Ask them. Not sure what their priorities are? Ask them. Not sure about their communication preferences? Ask them. Not sure what they expect of you? Don’t guess. Ask.

Remember, managing up helps both you and your boss succeed. When done well, it promotes a healthier work environment and stronger partnership. By anticipating needs, aligning priorities, and maintaining open communication, you can reduce friction, increase productivity, and foster trust. Managing up puts you on the road to your success.

Interested in learning more about how to successfully manage up? Careerstone is giving away free copies of Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with any Type of Boss (by our very own Mary Abbajay) to the first five people who respond. Simply send an email to info@careerstonegroup.com to claim your copy now!