Students and new graduates often feel powerless in the earliest roles in their careers. However, knowing how to “manage up” and influence the decisions of your boss and those above them can be beneficial.
Managing up is using your voice and influence to encourage folks higher on the organizational ladder than you to make decisions you believe in. It allows you to be a voice in the room even if you are not physically present. Managing up effectively means sharing your views and encouraging your supervisor to take a certain path.
Here are some steps to take to manage up:
- Cultivate mutual trust and respect with your supervisor. It can take time to build the rapport needed to manage up well, so be attentive to cultivating a strong relationship with your supervisor.
- Make sure you have regular meetings with your direct supervisor. And keep an agenda! One way to be sure that you are having your voice heard is to make sure that you are regularly meeting with your supervisor. If that is not part of your organizational culture, request a regular check-in time.
- Lead with humility and curiosity. Ask good questions, request feedback, and be willing to learn. Managers respond well to direct reports who are eager to engage in their work with intentionality.
- Be observant about what is happening in the office and form independent opinions and solutions. When you want to share your opinion, it is helpful if you are well informed about the company, its problems, and potential solutions. Managers respond well when you bring them a well-researched solution. Sometimes all that means is listening to what is happening with other people in the office.
- Know what you want. Do you want more responsibility? For the office to make a different choice? For a certain project to receive more attention? Know what you are seeking from your supervisor and be prepared to articulate it.
- Encourage your supervisor to manage up as well. Sometimes your supervisor is limited in what they can do. Work with them to find ways to engage with leaders in the company to advocate for you.
Managing up will help you and your supervisor develop a deeper and more productive relationship. It will give you opportunities to advocate for yourself and what you think is best for yourself and the wider organization. It could also open the door for additional professional development opportunities. You have valuable input that could help improve the company, so don’t be afraid to share it!
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