Career Growth and Managing up: How to Effectively Manage Your Manager and Boost Career Success
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Managing Up for Career Success: Why do You Need to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Manager
I have a relative who leads a large team, and one day, we were chatting about her team members. I asked her who her top performers were, and she didn’t hesitate to say: “The ones who know how to manage me well!”
Since then I have always built a good relationship with my manager. This is one of the most crucial steps in advancing my career and creating a positive work environment.
When you and your manager communicate openly, sharing both your goals and understanding what they need from you, it sets the foundation for mutual respect and understanding.
This relationship allows for clearer expectations, smoother collaboration, and a better alignment of priorities, ultimately benefiting both of you. By managing up, you’re not only showing initiative but also demonstrating that you’re invested in the team’s success, which can lead to more support, growth opportunities, and a stronger sense of job satisfaction.
How Can a Good Relationship with Your Boss Drives Career Growth
Hard work and getting tasks done is important but building a strong, positive relationship with your boss is a step closer to a successful and satisfying career. It’s about fostering a connection that benefits both you and your team in many ways. Here are some of the key advantages of effectively managing up:
Gaining Trust and Respect: A good relationship with your manager builds mutual trust, which opens up more opportunities and support for you in the workplace.
Career Advancement: When managers see your commitment and reliability, they’re more likely to recommend you for promotions or important projects.
Better Job Satisfaction: Clear expectations and alignment with your boss lead to a more enjoyable work experience and reduced stress.
Increased Productivity: By understanding your manager’s priorities, you can focus on high-impact tasks, making your work more efficient and effective.
Improved Communication: Managing up creates an open line of communication, helping you stay informed and clear on expectations and goals.
Enhanced Team Collaboration: With a shared understanding, you can contribute to team goals more effectively and help create a more positive team environment.
Leadership Skill Development: Managing up helps you practice skills like empathy, strategic thinking, and negotiation, which are crucial for career growth.
Related Article: How To Be More Visible at Work – Proven Strategies to Get Noticed
10 WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR MANAGER
1. Start by Understanding Expectations
To manage your manager well, start by clearly understanding what’s expected of you. This means knowing your responsibilities, priorities, and any specific goals they have for you. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if something isn’t clear—it shows you’re committed to aligning with their needs. Check in regularly to stay updated, especially if things change, and confirm what success looks like in their eyes.
2. Do a Great Job
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to manage your manager is by consistently doing a good job. When you meet or exceed expectations and deliver quality work, your manager will naturally trust you more and rely on you for important tasks. It sounds basic, but showing that you can be counted on builds your credibility and strengthens your working relationship.
3. Understand Your Manager’s Pressures and Goals
To effectively manage your manager, it’s important to understand their pressures and goals. Every boss has their own challenges, whether it’s meeting deadlines, managing a team, or balancing competing priorities. By taking the time to learn what’s on their plate, you can better anticipate their needs and offer solutions that ease their stress.
If you know their top goals, you can align your work with those priorities, making it easier to contribute to their success. Be proactive, empathetic, and offer support where it’s most needed.
4. Bringing Solutions to the Table, not just Problems
To manage your manager effectively, it’s not enough to just understand their pressures and goals—you need to offer solutions. Recognizing their challenges, whether deadlines or team issues, allows you to step in with ideas or take on tasks that lighten their load. By offering solutions, you show initiative and reliability, strengthening your relationship and boosting your career.
5. Avoid Surprises with Clear Communication
To manage your manager well, it’s important to keep communication open and consistent. Make sure there are no surprises—whether it’s a big accomplishment or a challenge you’re facing. Keep your manager in the loop regularly with updates on your progress, even if things are going smoothly. If issues arise, don’t wait until they become problems—address them early and offer potential solutions.
This proactive communication builds trust and ensures that your manager feels confident in your work and in your ability to handle responsibilities.
6. Be Honest and Own Your Mistakes
Being honest and admitting mistakes is a key part of managing your manager effectively. Nobody’s perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how you handle them. When something goes wrong, don’t try to cover it up or shift the blame. Own up to it, explain what happened, and share how you plan to fix it.
This honesty shows maturity, accountability, and a willingness to learn, which will earn your manager’s respect. Addressing mistakes openly also builds a stronger foundation of trust, making it easier to move forward and grow from the experience.
7. Seek Honest Feedback for Continuous Growth
Seeking honest feedback is an essential part of managing your manager and growing in your role. Don’t wait for your boss to offer feedback—ask for it. Whether it’s about a recent project, your performance, or areas for improvement, asking for feedback shows that you’re committed to personal growth and open to constructive criticism.
It also demonstrates initiative and a willingness to improve, which will make your manager more likely to invest in your development. Be open to both positive and negative feedback, and use it as an opportunity to learn, adjust, and become even better at what you do.
8. Take Initiative and Seek Challenging Tasks
If you’re looking to grow and take on more responsibility, don’t wait for your manager to offer additional tasks—ask for them. Showing initiative by requesting more work or challenging projects signals that you’re eager to develop your skills and contribute more to the team. Be specific about the kind of work you’re interested in or where you want to grow, so your manager can match you with the right opportunities. Taking the initiative to seek out more work not only helps you stand out but also demonstrates your commitment to your role and your long-term career goals.
9. Avoid Gossip and Stay Professional
One of the most important things you can do when managing your manager is to avoid gossiping about them. Whether it’s with coworkers or in casual conversations, speaking negatively about your boss can quickly damage your credibility and trust. Instead, focus on constructive discussions and problem-solving when challenges arise.
If you have concerns, address them directly with your manager rather than venting to others. Keeping a professional attitude and maintaining respect, even when things get tough, shows maturity and strengthens your reputation as a reliable and respectful team member.
10. Be Adaptable and Open to Change
In any workplace, things are constantly evolving—whether it’s changes in strategy, processes, or priorities. To effectively manage your manager, you need to be flexible and open to change. When your boss introduces new ideas or shifts in direction, instead of resisting, embrace the change with a positive attitude.
Show that you can adapt quickly and help your team navigate through transitions. This not only helps you stay aligned with your manager’s goals but also positions you as someone who can thrive in dynamic environments, which is highly valued in any career.
11. Show Genuine Interest in Your Boss as a Person
Being interested in your boss as a person—not just as your superior—can go a long way in building a stronger relationship. While it’s important to maintain professionalism, showing genuine curiosity about their hobbies, interests, or family life can help create a more personal connection.
Ask them about their weekend plans, how their family is doing, or what they enjoy outside of work. This humanizes your relationship and shows that you care about them beyond just work tasks. Of course, it’s important to respect their boundaries and keep it appropriate, but small gestures of interest can foster mutual respect and make communication more comfortable.
Start Today...
Start implementing these strategies today. Take a moment to assess your relationship with your boss and identify areas where you can improve. Whether it’s asking for more feedback, offering solutions, or just checking in on their well-being, every small effort counts. Begin managing up with intention, and watch your career soar! Let me know in the comments which of these tips you’ll try first, or share your own experiences of managing up effectively!
Comments (4)
Danoue
November 10, 2024 at 4:42 pm
This is such a powerful post. Anf yes, honestly is a must.
Niru
November 10, 2024 at 10:04 pm
This is really great! I’ve been facing some challenges recently and this post has just inspired me to do things a bit differently.
Sandra Joseph
November 11, 2024 at 2:05 am
My relationship with my manager can definitely use some work. Great tips!
Domii P
November 11, 2024 at 2:53 pm
These are really great tips in the corporate world. Thanks for sharing!
Comments are closed