How to Manage Up

Managing up helps you build strong working relationships and become a valued member of your team. Learn how to get started in this article by Sandy Aquino.

What does managing up mean?

Managing up means doing what you can, when you can, to make your boss’s job easier. It can be an effective way to build a strong working relationship with your manager and align your efforts with theirs. 

To do this, you’ll need to know what’s important to them. When you begin a new job or get a new boss, take some time to sit down with them and discuss this.

Here are two key questions to get you started. 

What are the most important metrics from my world that you check each day? 

Then, make darn sure to have a line of sight to those metrics and ensure they stay in check. If one starts to fall out of line, you can quickly investigate the root cause and create a plan to fix it. That way, you can proactively communicate your strategy to address the issue without waiting to be asked. Most bosses find comfort in knowing that you are closely managing the metrics that will make them look good to their superiors and investors. 

What keeps you up at night? What do you worry about? 

You might find that no one has ever asked them this before, and they have to think about it for a minute. Whatever their response, listen very closely–this answer will be pure gold. Ask for clarification to ensure you truly understand, because if you can help resolve the issues that they worry about most, you’ll be seen as a superstar for a very long time! 

When it seems appropriate, ask some additional questions, such as:

• What goals are you measured on? How can I help you reach them? 
  
• What
  does my success look like to you?
• 
  How involved do you prefer to be with my department?
• 
  Can you clarify my authority limits so I don’t waste your time with unnecessary requests and approvals?
• 
  How often do you prefer to hear from me? 

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