In today’s workforce, much of the leadership conversation revolves around managing down—building trust with teams, fostering collaboration and driving growth. While these are essential skills, managing up is an equally critical, often overlooked skill.
So, what does managing up look like? At its core, it’s about cultivating influence and trust with your leaders to create meaningful impact. It’s a skill that doesn’t just amplify your team’s success—it positions you as a strategic thinker, ultimately helping you earn a seat at the table. Without it, even the most effective leaders can struggle to achieve big-picture goals and drive organizational change.
What is Managing Up, and Why Does it Matter?
Managing up is not about hierarchy—it’s about alignment. It’s the ability to understand your leaders’ expectations and priorities, foster collaboration, and navigate these dynamics strategically. And, like any skill, managing up requires practice, emotional intelligence and consistent effort.
Early in my career, I worked at a tech company where I learned a valuable lesson: success wasn’t just about doing my job “my way.” It was about understanding how each leader defined success and adjusting my approach to meet their expectations and drive things forward. Over time, having this ability to adapt built trust and helped me achieve my goals while advancing organizational priorities.
How to Manage Up More Effectively
If you are looking to build on this skill, here are five actionable strategies to consider:
- Successful Collaboration Thrives on Respect. Relationships matter. Even if you don’t always see eye-to-eye with your leaders (and spoiler: you won’t), approaching conversations with respect and collaboration will foster trust and support.
- Be Patient. Building trust and influence doesn’t happen overnight. Managing up is a long game, but the payoff—a stronger relationship and better alignment with leadership—is worth the effort.
- Be Proactive. Don’t wait to be asked. Take the initiative to identify projects or tasks that will streamline workflows or make your leaders’ jobs easier. This not only demonstrates reliability but also showcases your ability to think ahead.
- Listen and Engage. Leadership at every level has insights to share. Ask thoughtful questions and take the opportunity to learn from them. Building these relationships—whether with your boss or leadership outside your sphere—can open doors to new opportunities and perspectives that will help you align your efforts with broader organizational goals.
- Balance Humility and Self-Promotion. While it’s important to remain humble, don’t let your contributions go unnoticed. Equally, avoid overselling yourself to prevent creating unnecessary friction. Strive for a balance that ensures your efforts are visible and valued.
The Big Picture Impact
Managing up isn’t just about you—it’s about creating ripple effects across your team and the organization. By aligning with leadership priorities and connecting your work to larger business objectives, you can amplify your team’s contributions.
Managing up is as much about relationship-building as it is about delivering results. By investing in this skill and committing to its practice, you’ll cultivate a dynamic that benefits everyone involved.
