I was coaching two different leaders this week about how to manage up to their bosses. Think of managing up as a way to help your boss look good and leverage their help when you need it. If you’re not familiar with the term, let me share a few examples with you:
- Sharing information with your boss so they are prepared if they are asked for an update from their boss or others in the organization.
- Give your boss a heads up on something that is going on (project issue, organizational change, team update) so they don’t get blindsided by others if they are asked about it.
- Provide things that they’re going to need and anticipate what else could be needed. (Build a report that they’re going to need or take the initiative to prepare something in a way that they didn’t expect.)
- Be a sounding board for them that they can trust and talk to about issues.
- Leverage their help when you have tried to address a situation and it isn’t working. It can be helpful to have your boss weigh in on the topic or share that their perspective is the same as yours to remove obstacles or disagreements with other departments.
If they trust you and know that you will tell them the truth, they will start to see you as a partner that can help them accomplish their goals as they help the company and the organization grow. They will see you as someone who is there to support them. This is what will help you be the person that they think of when there are new opportunities.
You should think of your boss as your client and what would you do for your client? You’d go above and beyond for them, right? Take these proactive actions and it will make a difference in how your boss sees you and talks about the value that you bring. Managing up is finding the ways that you can be a partner with your boss to help them succeed which in turn helps you succeed.