8 Examples of Managing Up: Get Ahead by Getting Aligned (Today!)

Managing up is a key strategy for building a strong relationship with your manager.

Why? Because effective communication between you and your manager is the cornerstone of your success. 

By working effectively with your manager, knowing their goals and keeping them informed, you bridge gaps and create a win-win situation for everyone.

But here’s the hard part: Aligning with their talented minds. 

Unclear goals and communication silos easily derail even the best teams. This is where managing up becomes crucial.

Below, I’ll share communication tips and practical examples of managing up that you can implement to build a strong relationship with your manager.

Key Takeaways:

• You can successfully manage up by taking initiative, solving problems and building trust to become a valued asset to your team.
• Proactive communication and collaboration with your manager unlock better results and career growth for both of you.

What Managing Up Is … And Isn’t

Managing up is your proactive approach to building a strong relationship with your manager. It involves clear communication, aligning your goals and showcasing your value to the team.

This proactive strategy builds a strong working relationship that benefits everyone — you, your manager and the entire team.

Managing Up Is …	Managing Up Isn’t …
Proactively communicating progress and roadblocks.	Micromanaging your manager.
Anticipating your manager’s needs and offering solutions.	Pointing fingers or placing blame on others.
Keeping them informed without micromanaging their decisions.	Trying to control your manager or dictate their priorities.

Understanding your manager’s leadership style is key to effectively tailoring your approach.

Remember: Your working relationship is a partnership, not a power struggle. 

1. Stay in Touch With Regular Updates

Take my advice: update your manager regularly.

Regular updates build trust and transparency between you and your manager. Plus, no one wants to be left in the dark about projects.

Keeping them informed about project developments, challenges you encounter and accomplishments demonstrates that you’re reliable and proactive. 

Examples of regular updates:

• Schedule brief check-ins: Set up a recurring meeting (weekly or bi-weekly) to discuss project progress. Keep it concise — 15 minutes is ideal. Or, if you can keep it in a short email, even better.
• Send “heads up” messages: For urgent issues or unexpected roadblocks that arise between meetings, send a quick message to keep your manager in the loop.

Quick Tip: Don’t leave your manager guessing about your progress. You can’t just assume your manager knows of the challenges you’re facing without communicating with them. 

2. Anticipate Problems (Within Reason!)

I get it — you can’t predict everything. There will always be unforeseen circumstances. 

But staying ahead of potential issues demonstrates your foresight, problem-solving skills and proactive approach.

Here’s how to make anticipating problems a habit:

• Think like your manager: Step into your manager’s shoes. Consider your manager’s priorities and potential concerns. What challenges might they anticipate for the project?
• Propose solutions: Don’t just identify potential problems; come prepared with solutions or recommendations.
• Stay informed: Keep yourself updated on industry trends, competitor activity and any internal changes that could impact your projects. This helps you identify potential issues early on.

Quick Tip: Leverage technology to your advantage. Utilize project management tools or communication platforms to track project progress, flag potential roadblocks early on and share updates with your manager in real-time. 

3. Get Your Goals Aligned

As I like to say: People quit bosses, not jobs.

One major reason people leave their jobs is a misalignment between their goals and their manager’s expectations (or even incentives). 

Early on, make sure your individual goals and objectives align with those of your manager (and the broader organization). 

This fosters a sense of collaboration, ensures everyone is on the same page and helps you avoid the frustration of misdirected effort.

After all, when you understand your manager’s priorities and how your work contributes to the team’s success, you’re much more likely to feel engaged and motivated.

Here’s how to ensure the team stays on the same page:

• Initiate the conversation: Schedule a meeting to discuss departmental goals and how your individual goals can contribute.
• Understand priorities: Once you understand your manager’s focus areas, tailor your goals to align with them.
• Align your objectives: Frame your goals to clearly show how they contribute to the team’s success and your manager’s priorities.

Quick Tip: Tailor your communication to your manager’s style, considering both leadership style and communication preferences.

4. Take Initiative When Possible

Taking on additional responsibilities or tasks without being asked shows initiative, willingness and commitment to the team’s success. 

It’s about identifying opportunities to go above and beyond your assigned role.

And your efforts can yield positive outcomes, like new learning opportunities and career growth.

Some ways to showcase your initiative effectively include:

• Identify opportunities: Look for areas where your skills or extra effort can make a positive impact. Perhaps a colleague is swamped, or a tedious process needs improving.
• Offer to help: Don’t wait to be asked. Approach your manager with a proactive suggestion, framing it as a way to benefit the team, not just take on someone else’s work. Highlight your skills and willingness to contribute. 

Quick Tip: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, be reasonable. Don’t take on more than you can handle or tasks outside your expertise.

5. Practice Independent Problem-Solving

It’s natural to want to seek help the second a problem comes your way. Things don’t always go according to plan and unexpected hurdles are a reality in any workplace. 

But here’s the thing: handling challenges independently fosters trust with your manager. 

It shows your manager you’re a resourceful problem-solver they can count on, contributing positively to both your role and your working relationship. 

Plus, independent problem-solving builds confidence, sharpens critical thinking and streamlines workflow. 

Quick Tip: Don’t wait to get stuck. Develop a problem-solving routine. When facing a hurdle, take a step back, analyze the situation and brainstorm potential solutions before seeking help. And make sure to use AI while doing all of these things!

6. Share and Adapt to Communication Styles

Effective communication is a two-way street.

While it’s important to clearly articulate your ideas, understanding your manager’s communication style is equally important for managing up effectively. 

Everyone has their way of processing new information, and tailoring your approach can ensure your message is heard clearly and effectively — especially in today’s hybrid or remote work environments. 

Here are some ideas to help you adapt communication styles:

• Identify their style: Pay attention to how your manager communicates. Do they prefer short, to-the-point updates or detailed reports with data and analysis? Are they big-picture thinkers or detail-oriented?
• Match their communication style: For email lovers, keep updates concise. If your manager is a meeting fan, schedule a longer time for in-depth discussions.

Quick Tip: If your manager prefers quick check-ins, keep them brief and focused. For a more analytical manager, come prepared with data to support your points. 

7. Practice a Growth Mindset

The ability to bounce back from setbacks and approach challenges with a positive outlook is a valuable asset in any workplace.  

A growth mindset focuses on identifying opportunities for improvement and presenting actionable solutions rather than dwelling on problems.  

This demonstrates your resilience and proactive approach to your manager.

Having a growth mindset is helpful during performance reviews. By outlining steps for improvement based on past challenges, you demonstrate a commitment to ongoing development.

Quick Tip: Foster collaboration. Invite your manager and colleagues to brainstorm ideas together, demonstrating your willingness to work as a team.

(Check out my employee performance review template to streamline your feedback process and encourage a growth mindset in you and your team.)

8. Be (Over) Prepared

Think like your manager. The goal is to walk into a meeting brimming with confidence. Preparedness instills trust and makes a positive impression. 

It’s better to be over-prepared and ready to tackle any question your manager throws your way.

You’ll show your manager you’ve considered all angles and are confident in your work. 

Quick Tip: Quantify your impact whenever possible. Back up your ideas with data, metrics or specific examples to add credibility.

Why Is Managing Up Important?

Managing up is an investment in your career success (and benefits everyone on the team). 

Proactively communicating, collaborating effectively and anticipating your manager’s needs fosters a mutually beneficial relationship that sets you up for long-term wins.

It keeps your manager informed, allowing them to manage expectations upward and advocate for you when needed. 

Benefits for Your Manager:

• More collaborative and trusting work environment.
• Better-aligned employees.
• Empowered and proactive direct reports.
• Clearer visibility into direct reports work.

Benefits for Direct Reports:

• Improved relationship with leadership.
• More likely to receive recognition.
• Better results on projects.
• Career development.

Now ask yourself, how can I manage up effectively? 

Building a strong relationship with your manager is the key to unlocking success, and at Awesome Motive, we provide the support and resources to help you achieve it.

Use these tips to build a strong working relationship with your manager, achieve better results on projects and position yourself for future career advancement.

To becoming better leaders together,
Thomas