Managing Up: The Leadership Skill No One Ever Talks About

As a leader, the primary focus is often placed on managing subordinates and ensuring employees perform at their best. And being an effective leader requires a diverse set of skills, including communication, delegation, and decision-making. However, one often overlooked skill essential for any leader is managing up. Managing up means influencing and building a productive working relationship with your supervisor, senior leaders, or executives.

Managing up is not commonly taught in leadership courses, even at the executive level. Despite this, it is a crucial skill that every leader should master. Effective management of higher-ups will not only increase your chances of success but also make you more valuable to the company or organization.

Why Managing Up is Important

Managing up means managing your boss or other higher-ups, but there is more to it than just pleasing those in authority. Most organizations have a hierarchy, and keeping excellent relationships with higher-ups can positively affect everything from your job satisfaction to your career progression. It is also an opportunity to learn from those above and provide valuable feedback as needs arise.

When you can manage up effectively, your boss trusts you to handle more responsibility. You might get access to new…