The Power of Managing Up

Your boss controls access to resources, strategic priorities, and decisions that shape your work. By building trust and communicating effectively with your boss, you will secure the support and visibility needed for your team to thrive. While your subordinates may appreciate your leadership, your advocates for your career advancement and opportunities.

Strategic Alignment and Communication

Understanding your boss’s goals allows you to align your team’s work with broader organizational objectives. Proactive communication ensures your boss is aware of your progress and can help address challenges before they escalate.

Buffering and Opportunity

Managing up also shields your team from unnecessary pressures and organizational politics. It also opens doors for mentorship, learning, and professional growth.

The Multiplier Effect

When you manage up well, you unlock resources, remove obstacles, and set an example of upward influence for your team. Focusing only on managing down can lead to isolation and limit both your effectiveness and advancement.

Conclusion

Effective leaders balance managing up and down, but in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments, managing your boss is key to long-term success for you and your team.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏