Why Managing Up Matters More Now Than Ever?

Managing Up was always a sensible approach to one’s professional growth. With today’s economic conditions, heightened competition and evolving technology creating uncertainty and potentially fewer opportunities in the workplace, nurturing this key relationship becomes even more important.

 

You may consider yourself a reliable employee who produces high quality deliverables within budgetary and time constraints, but an uncomfortable relationship with your manager can work against your advancement. Even if you enjoy a good working relationship with him/her, there are always areas which you can improve, such as ways of communicating and handling differences.

 

Essentially, Managing Up is about creating a more successful working relationship between you and your manager. It is not about flattery or politics; it is about cooperating and building trust so that individual, shared and organizational goals can be achieved. More specifically, it involves being sensitive to the preferred work styles of your manager and adjusting your behavior to better facilitate a smooth working relationship.

 

Failure to “manage” this important work relationship can lead to missed opportunities to demonstrate skills, lost promotions, damaged reputations and even forced resignations.

 

For more information, check Yael Zofi’s book, TOPS Managing Up.