Top tips on managing upwards
Managing upwards - it isn’t about bad managers or managers who don’t know what they’re doing.
It is actually a really valuable skill which benefits everyone.
Arguably seen as quite a cliched expression but managing upwards is a valuable skill and can make you a more efficient and productive member of a team.
Firstly, it is important to understand what managing upwards isn’t, before looking at some examples of what it is. It isn’t going above your managers head, judging your managing, or trying to change your manager.
It is about effective communication, adapting and flexing your working style and ultimately understanding what your manager is trying to achieve - and the role which you play in supporting this.
In our Insights articles we often offer advice and tips on how to navigate a variety of different work scenarios and a lot of these actually involve ‘managing upwards’.
It can take a lot of different forms, below are some common behaviours which we see when we’re managing upwards and how you might approach them.
Effective communication - this underpins everything, developing open communication with your manager is critical. It will allow you to explore what your manager’s preferred working styles are, and for them to understand yours. For example, providing a verbal project update vs a written update or sending through an agenda before 1:1 catch ups, providing open and honest feedback to each other. This will all help develop a healthy working relationship.
Understanding each others needs - Be curious and ask questions, why does a report need to be submitted by a specific deadline? Your manager may need to take this information into another meeting, or it could inform budget preparations or getting more resources for your team. If you share your questions or queries, your manager will become accustom to these and it will help them provide you the information which you need to do your job effectively. For example, if it helps you to understand the end audience for a report, it may help you when you put it together.
Working together - Vision and goal setting can be a really powerful exercise to do together. For example, if your manager can share with you their overall vision for the company, team or strategy, it may help you understand your role in this. You can then consider your personal career development goals, and in sharing these with your manager, they will be able to align projects and work to help support you working towards these.
Sharing your skills - Quite often you will possess a set of skills that your manager may not have themselves. Be willing to share them, and help them develop their knowledge and understanding. They will come to see you as a trusted member of the team.
Autonomy and proactivity - Seize opportunities if you see them, perhaps your manager missed them. In healthy working relationships, where trust and effective communication has been developed, your manager will likely encourage you to act autonomously and would appreciate your efforts to be proactive. You will be able to present these opportunities to your manager and how they support the work of your team or company as you have developed a greater understanding of what you are trying to achieve.
When managing upwards well it makes for a productive and rewarding working relationship, where both the employee and manager feel like they have a voice and are being heard, and understand each others needs.