lesson 15: managing up
what even is managing up? managing up means you are aware of how to effectively manage your manager, in order for you to be most productive. for some it comes naturally, and for everyone else, it can be easily learned. it's about equipping yourself with tools, understanding what makes your manager tick, and how you can make their day easier, which in turn makes your day easier!
there are lots of types of managers. hands-on, hands-off, moody, perky, impatient, kind, giving, thoughtful, aloof, and so many more. this list isn't exhaustive, nor is one trait mutually exclusive of another. people are complex. just like you're busy, your manager is also busy. you probably don't know a lot of the things that come across their plate so when you think they're ignoring your email, they're probably really just swamped, and in a constant state of re-prioritization.
the first step of managing up is empathy and understanding of putting yourself in your boss's shoes. learn their habits. if your boss needs 30 minutes in the morning to get settled in, drink coffee (yes please), and catch up on news and emails, then maybe don't bombard them first thing in the morning.
anyways, here is some advice from me, much of which i've learned from my managers early in my career. the goal? make it easy for your boss to just say "yes". you can do this by taking ownership of your work and using your boss as a guide, rather than someone telling you what to do. little known secret, good managers don't really want to tell you what to do. they'd rather you tell them what you want to do and why!
- what's your boss's preferred method of communication? email? slack? text? phone calls? coffee walks? in-person chit-chats?
- are they micro or macro managers? micro managers want every little detail and feel like they're checking up on you a lot. macros managers generally empower their team to handle their work and reach out if there are roadblocks or questions. there are pros and cons to both, but know which one your manager is.
- incorporate your knowledge about your manager in your communication to the. i.e. a macro manager is going to want to know at a high level, what is the point? they don't need to know all the steps, or every metric, or every option, they want to know, what's the goal and is this work meeting the goal.
- advice from a manager in my Equinox days was that when i need approval on something, to send him an email to which he could basically reply "yes". bosses don't say no for fun, they generally feel like they don't have all the relevant info, or it's not connecting to a goal, so they push back. it's a lot easier to say yes! his advice made me structure my meetings and emails with him in a very organized fashion. i did a lot "you have choice A or B. I like option A and this is why." 90% of the time he went with my recommendation and liked that i came with an opinion. i also like this from people who work for me. it's ok to be wrong, but know the options, and take a stand! it is your work too, so you should feel like you own it, from the work that goes into it, to the results.
- just be helpful. if your boss looks stressed, ask if they need help with something or ask if they need lunch if it's 3pm and they're looking hangry. this is just being a nice good person but really helps your manager in an intangible way.
the one caveat to all of this, is if your boss is ridiculous in some way, you shouldn't feel like you have to accommodate everything to their liking. they are your boss, so always be respectful and try to communicate as best you can, but if you think there's a better way to achieve a goal, even if it might not be your boss's preference, it's ok to communicate that with a recommendation about how trying something new might help both of you. and remember, teamwork makes the dream work.
