Managing Upward

Managing upward is a conscious approach to working with your manager toward mutually agreed-upon goals that are in the best interests of you, your manager, and the organization. It is not mere political maneuvering; rather, it is a process of influencing your manager to make decisions that benefit both of you. Managing up facilitates the entire management process by making use of all available expertise and resources to develop solutions to problems rather than just talking about them, ignoring them, or covering them up.

Outline

• The Purpose of Managing Upward
• Developing a Relationship with Your Manager
• Communicating with Your Manager
• Negotiating with Your Manager

Steps for Managing Upward

• Steps for Developing a Relationship with Your Manager
• Steps for Presenting Problems or Opportunities Up

Tips for Managing Upward

• Tips for Working Effectively with Your Manager
• Tips for Negotiating Your Needs

Tools & Forms

• Worksheet for Understanding Your Manager
• Worksheet for Understanding Yourself
• Worksheet for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Your Relationship with Your Manager
• Worksheet for Negotiating with Your Manager

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