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y It is up to you to intentionally
manage your relationship with
your boss and help them to be a
more effective manager and a better
boss to you. If there are hiccups or
breakdowns in the relationship, it
is in your interest to act promptly to
have those issues addressed in a way
that works for both of you.
y The boss is only one-half of the
relationship. You are the other half
— the half you have more control
over. Developing an effective
working relationship requires
self-awareness and adjustment —
of your own needs, strengths and
weaknesses, personal style, how you
work with others, and what you may
be resisting.
y Managing up is a skill you can
learn over time. Sitting back and
complaining does not help. By
honing your “managing up” skills
and improving your rapport with
your boss, you’re investing in a
happier, more fulfilling workplace.
Strategies for managing up
Managing up is often situational;
however, from navigating my career, I’ve
learned that one can manage up
effectively and strengthen your
partnership with your manager by doing
well in four vital areas.
1. Understand your boss’s style
and preferences
This will enable you to adapt your
approach and communication with them
responsively. Consider four ways to do
this:

Ask what their biggest priorities and
concerns are
hile many workplace influence your career trajectory. When Sometimes, keeping your ears close to the
relationships the relationship works well, you both ground (networking, not gossiping) will
contribute to career enjoy effective two-way communication, help you understand the challenges that
success, successful clear expectations, good alignment, your boss is facing in the organisation. If
W corporate executives mutual trust, respect, and camaraderie. you know what achievements would
will tell you that they never took their Naturally, your organisation also benefits make your boss a success in the eyes of
boss for granted and actively managed from the harmonious and productive their own boss and senior management,
up to cultivate productive and positive relationship. Managing up can also help support them in that.
relationships with their seniors. you find common ground with a difficult
Managing up is not about blind manager or a manager who doesn’t work Understand your boss’s
following or ingratiating yourself. It is or think the way you do; it can result in a communication preferences
also not about tolerating bosses who manager who’s willing to advocate for Some bosses are very hands-on, others
behave disrespectfully or you when the need arises. like to manage by exception (ie, identify
inappropriately. It’s about consciously The purpose of this article is to remind issues that deviate from the norm and
developing good and trusting you of these key principles to manage up manage those). Does your boss prefer
relationships with the people who can effectively: grabbing a coffee together rather than

FM-MAGAZINE.COM April 2023 I FM MAGAZINE I 17