All employees who strive to achieve career success need to keep their managing up skills sharp. Unless you’re in the top position in your organization, you report to someone and will need to manage up from time to time. Managing up skills are essential for all team members, leaders, managers, and executives.

This week, I had the privilege of facilitating a Managing Up Workshop for the University of Baltimore’s Employee Development Academy. Employee development is one of the “right programs” that organizations need for an Extraordinary Learning Strategy. Here’s how I assisted the participants.

The Problem: How do I manage up to help my boss?

Many of the participants were having difficulty helping their boss with some of his/her skill gaps. They weren’t sure how to help their supervisors be more effective so that the organization is more effective and they can get their jobs done.

When your boss is not successful, you will not be able as successful. Just as much as they need to work well with and through you to get their work done, you need them be successful as well. It’s a reciprocal relationship that takes nurturing and requires effort.

Although you are the employee, it’s essential to demonstrate the same behaviors as your supervisor in order to have a smooth work-life and positive relationship with your supervisor. It’s often difficult to manage up because it requires special skills, a keen sense of self-awareness, and constant practice.

The Solution: Build and practice the same skills that are required of your boss

It can be tricky to “act like a supervisor”, “act like your supervisor”, and “be your best” which are the three principles for managing up. During the two-hour, Managing Up Workshop, employees learned techniques for getting to know their supervisor, better manage communication, priorities, and projects while managing themselves. They left with tools, opportunities to practice having difficult conversations with their boss, and assess their problem-solving skills. Participants were able to engage in a little friendly competition while enhancing key skills that are necessary to forge a successful relationship with their supervisor. 

Below are just three learning nuggets that participants gained. When your boss...

• Is a bit unorganized, create a system to help him/her stay organized such as create a system with color-coded folders that indicate what action needs to be taken or offer a simple agenda during your one-on-one meetings. This will help your boss stay focused and not have to search for documents and information.

• Keeps piling work on your already-full plate, write an impact paper. The impact paper should include the current situation, alternative approaches, and the opportunity for your supervisor to decide the path forward.

• Is unresponsive to your emails, ensure that you’re not sending too many. You may consolidate your emails and use headings to make it easier to read. Also, you could alert your boss to emails that require action or are just information by using words like, “Action”, “FYI”, or Read-ahead” in the subject line.

The Results: Employees achieve higher levels of career success

Employees left the workshop with additional tools, resources, and strategies to better support their supervisor’s success that they were able to apply immediately back in the office. They were better able to adjust to their supervisor’s work style, handle frustrating situations while staying focused on organizational goals. 

Workshop participants were equipped to be extraordinary employees who take care of their supervisors and achieve higher levels of career success!