The Secret to Managing Up
One of my clients was complaining about his new manager.
“We just don’t click,” he said. “I feel like I’m constantly missing the mark with her.”
Sound familiar?
When we analyzed the situation further, he realized that the problem isn’t that they’re incompatible.
The problem is that they’re speaking different languages at work.
They are wired differently. They have different work styles.
So, we discussed the importance of managing up.
The reality is that everyone has to manage up.
What is Managing Up?
Managing up is the practice of building a strong, productive relationship with your boss by understanding their priorities, their communication style, and what they need from you to be successful.
It’s not about manipulation or office politics. It’s about being strategic in how you work with your manager to create better outcomes for everyone.
Just like you adapt your leadership style with your peers or direct reports, you should also adapt your approach when working with your boss.
Managing Up Starts with Understanding Values
Every leader values and rewards different things.
Some leaders really value creativity and big-picture thinking. Other leaders focus on analysis and follow-through. Neither approach is right nor wrong! They are just different!
The key to managing up successfully is figuring out what your boss values most, then adjusting how you show up to match those priorities.
Let me tell you about my client and his manager to show you what I mean.
My client values and rewards:
- Creative problem-solving
- Building team energy
- Collaborative brainstorming
- Planning for the future
His manager values and rewards:
- Data-driven decisions
- Detailed project plans
- Meeting deadlines consistently
- Clear, structured communication
See the disconnect? Neither person is wrong, but they’re seeing the world of work through completely different lenses.
How to Bridge the Gap
Once my client understood what his manager valued, everything changed.
Instead of showing up to meetings equipped with only big ideas and enthusiasm, he started also coming prepared with:
- Detailed project timelines
- Supporting data for his recommendations
- Clear next steps and deadlines
- Progress updates on previous commitments
Was this a stretch for him? Absolutely. But it wasn’t impossible, it just required more intentional preparation.
The result? His manager began to view him as reliable and strategic, not just creative. Their relationship improved dramatically.
Your Turn to Manage Up Effectively
Take a step back and honestly assess what your manager values.
Look at:
- What gets praised in team meetings?
- What questions do they always ask?
- What frustrates them most?
- How do they prefer to receive information?
Then ask yourself: How can I adjust my approach to align with these preferences while still being authentic to who I am?
Managing up doesn’t mean becoming someone else.
It means being strategic about how you present your work and ideas in a way that resonates with your manager’s style.
You can still be creative, collaborative, or detail-oriented… whatever comes naturally to you.
But when you understand what your boss values, you can frame your contributions in a way that they’ll appreciate and recognize.
That’s the real secret to managing up. It’s not about politics or playing games.
It’s about building bridges through understanding.
