When people think about career development, they often focus on managing their team, improving their skills, or getting recognized by leadership. But there's another powerful skill that's often overlooked: managing up.
Managing up means building a strong, proactive relationship with your manager—understanding their goals, communication style, and pressures so you can work more effectively together. It's not manipulation or flattery; it's strategic collaboration.
Done right, managing up can reduce friction, increase trust, and open new opportunities for visibility, leadership, and growth.
Why Managing Up Matters
Builds Alignment and Trust
When you understand your manager's priorities, you can anticipate needs and deliver what really matters. This not only makes their job easier but also positions you as a reliable and strategic partner.
Enhances Communication
Learning how your boss prefers to receive updates—whether in quick emails or detailed reports—helps avoid misunderstandings and improves overall team efficiency.
Increases Career Visibility
By working closely with your manager and contributing to their success, you become more visible in the organization. This often translates into more challenging projects, promotions, and sponsorship for leadership opportunities.
Promotes a Healthier Work Environment
Good relationships with leadership set a positive tone. When your communication is respectful, consistent, and solutions-oriented, it encourages a culture of collaboration rather than conflict.
Helps You Learn to Lead
Managing up teaches skills that are essential for leadership—empathy, foresight, communication, and the ability to navigate complexity.
How to Manage Up Effectively
Understand Their Goals and Pressures
What are your manager's top priorities? What pressures are they under? Knowing this helps you support them in ways that matter.
Adapt to Their Communication Style
Some managers want regular check-ins; others prefer independence. Observe and adapt to their preferred style—it shows emotional intelligence and flexibility.
Anticipate Needs and Solve Problems
Don't just bring problems—bring solutions. Think ahead and offer options when challenges arise. This makes you indispensable.
Be Honest, Not a "Yes Person"
Managing up is not about flattery. It's about respectfully offering insights, pushing back when needed, and contributing real value.
Keep Them Informed
Regular, brief updates—especially on wins, risks, or delays—help your manager make better decisions and show that you're on top of things.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overstepping boundaries — Respect hierarchy; don't try to do your manager's job.
- Withholding issues — Don't hide problems until it's too late. Transparency builds trust.
- Being reactive only — Anticipate needs instead of just waiting for instructions.
Conclusion:
Managing up isn't about pleasing your boss—it's about creating a productive, respectful relationship that benefits you, your manager, and the organization.
When you learn to manage up well, you not only make your team stronger—you also take greater ownership of your career trajectory. You become known not just as someone who gets the job done, but someone who makes others better, too.
That's leadership. And that's how careers grow.
