No matter what company you work for, you’ll likely eventually hear someone tell you to start “managing upward.” This strategy is meant to benefit not only you, but the entire business over time.
Definition – The Art of Managing Upward
Managing upward means that you make your boss your priority. You aim to develop the best relationship with him that you possibly can, supporting him in a multi-directional way.
When you manage upward, the assumption is that you will go above and beyond in your attempt to keep your boss–and your entire team–at the top. Don’t confuse the strategy with brown-nosing, however. Managing upward can mean you stand out and advance your career, but personal gain isn’t the only objective, with the well being of the team and corporation always kept in mind.
Benefits and Risks of Managing Upward
Done well, managing upward fosters good communication, efficiency and productivity, along with stronger, more innovative teams. It also helps employees stay aligned to the overall vision of the company, because there is less disconnect between the different levels within the organization. That cohesiveness and vision focus, in turn, provides stability for the brand’s reputation.
The dark side of managing upward has noteworthy points, too. With workers so oriented toward pleasing their bosses, they sometimes misplace their energy and don’t concentrate as much on areas that matter, like customer satisfaction. There is also the risk that, by continually supporting leaders and managers already in place, employees will rob themselves of the opportunity to present their new methods or concepts, working only toward what the current management has come up with.
As bosses get used to having a strong support network, they might come to feel entitled to help and the perks that come with meeting team goals, such as bonuses. That can cause rifts to form between the bosses and their subordinates, who might feel taken advantage of or unappreciated. It also can be hard to get rid of bad bosses, who might retaliate against workers who challenge them, the premise being that “good” workers don’t rock the boat.
The Dos and Don’ts of Implementation
Knowing that there are both drawbacks and advantages to managing upward, success depends on actively completing some tasks while avoiding others.
DO:
- Have unparalleled ethics, especially honesty. Honesty builds trust, and you need that for your boss to see you as a skilled, dependable go-to. Manipulation, hiding facts, or presenting yourself as more capable than you are will only come back to bite you later.
- Get to know your boss both personally (within reason) and professionally. The better you understand his preferences, way of thinking, strengths and struggles, the better you can respond to him and give him what he needs when he needs it.Look to the future. Don’t let a moment of frustration stop you from moving toward your goals and the objectives of the company. Even if your boss is upset, a tyrant or confusing today, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to bear it forever. Always try to see the best.
- Look to the future. Don’t let a moment of frustration stop you from moving toward your goals and the objectives of the company. Even if your boss is upset, a tyrant or confusing today, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to bear it forever. Always try to see the best.
- Use your voice. Your boss cannot read your mind, so tell him what you’re thinking or what you need. Be courteous as you do this. Your boss likely can be a great coach or model for you (or at least, a good network connection), but he won’t be very motivated to teach or offer help if he’s not getting any respect.Do your homework. The more data you have, the better perspective you have and the easier it is to support specific ideas and projects. You can get the information you need from lots of different sources, such as webinars, online stats, conferences or even job shadowing.
- Do your homework. The more data you have, the better perspective you have and the easier it is to support specific ideas and projects. You can get the information you need from lots of different sources, such as webinars, online stats, conferences or even job shadowing.
DON’T:
- Cower. Managing upward isn’t about agreeing with everything your boss says. It’s about providing the best support possible, and sometimes, that means getting your boss to think a little more outside the box or to bring him something new. As long as you are respectful and honest, it is perfectly fine to disagree. Great bosses appreciate another stone that can keep them sharp.Play office politics or get involved in company drama. This will take your focus away from the tasks you have on your plate and increase the risk you’ll make errors or be less efficient.
- Play office politics or get involved in company drama. This will take your focus away from the tasks you have on your plate and increase the risk you’ll make errors or be less efficient.Forget your coworkers. Sometimes the best solutions you can give your boss require the coordination of your entire team, so don’t step on the toes of the people who can help you shine.
- Forget your coworkers. Sometimes the best solutions you can give your boss require the coordination of your entire team, so don’t step on the toes of the people who can help you shine.Assume others will agree with your career timeline. You might have everything planned out
- Assume others will agree with your career timeline. You might have everything planned out until the day you can retire to a beach and drink out of a coconut, but if you’re not rising up the corporate latter fast enough, there’s probably a good reason. Take your reviews to heart and always accept the fact there’s room for growth. If you’re managing upward well, the promotions will come when you are ready to handle them.Managing upward is becoming increasingly popular throughout the business world, with many companies actively encouraging employees to do it. It has both benefits and drawbacks, however, so implementation needs to be carefully thought out and done properly. By concentrating on a few areas while avoiding others, you can make the most of the strategy.
- Managing upward is becoming increasingly popular throughout the business world, with many companies actively encouraging employees to do it. It has both benefits and drawbacks, however, so implementation needs to be carefully thought out and done properly. By concentrating on a few areas while avoiding others, you can make the most of the strategy.
