Whether you’re finally celebrating the job offer or you’ve been stuck at your cubicle for years, you might be daydreaming about how to manage up at work. Enter: the internal entrepreneur. Rather than sit back and wait for the higher-ups to take notice of your value, go out of your way to show them.
Managing up is all about making your boss’s job easier and your end-goal closer. And winning at work requires social skill, met with many obstacles – respecting the chain of command, understanding what makes your boss tick (and what ticks them off), and navigating control.
Below is a brief on leveling-up at work, and what to do to get there:
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Your boss’s trust
Your manager essentially controls your career trajectory at their respective company, and they could be the one to determine what role you receive. If they like you, your life will undoubtedly be easier. Keep your boss in the loop of how much extra effort you’re putting in on current tasks, and take initiative to prepare for what’s coming up. Conflict or miscommunication is bound to arise, and creating a foundation of open communication and support of each other’s success will help to resolve issues quickly. Understand their goals and anticipate their needs.
An adapted management style
A business is a machine, and every employee is a crucial component to how it operates. Creating or taking on a new role will require you to be adaptable and collaborate with people who work differently than you do. A good example to look at is your boss. Pay attention to their management style and use that as an example – for how you do or don’t want to be. What do they prioritize and how do they communicate this? What do your colleagues think about them, too? There will be a learning curve, so continue to ask yourself these kinds of questions for an acceleration toward your goal.
“Under promise and over deliver”
An age-old saying, this one will help you go the extra mile in satisfying your boss. Meeting your deadlines early, keeping commitments, honoring other people’s time, and answering questions before they’re asked will forecast the future you want.
Healthy relationships
Getting to know your colleagues outside of the work environment will nurture the relationships that will pay off when you need people to root for you. They can be encyclopedias of insider information; Ask them: How did they get to where they are, and what have they learned along the way? It’s all about asking the right questions and cultivating a culture of celebration for everyone’s wins.
Speak up
Another way to take initiative is to provide feedback for what could be working better. Just like in the 1988 film “Working Girl,” a working relationship should be “a two-way street,” in which everyone’s ideas are recognized. While staying humble and polite, your boss will appreciate how you take stock of what could be functioning more effectively and efficiently – proactively providing solutions, not problems.
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If your goal is a positive performance review, a raise or a new opportunity, managing up could be your key to getting there. The objective is to be considered indispensable at the company, and to help others do so at the same time. Positive relationships in the workplace are vital, and nurturing them will open up doors to your ideas. So when you go into work tomorrow, proudly demonstrate your potential.
