Managing Up, One Conversation at a Time
Briefly

The article discusses the concept of 'managing up,' emphasizing its importance in fostering productive relationships with supervisors. It introduces Melody Wilding's book, 'Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge,' which outlines ten key conversations to enhance interactions with bosses. The foundational conversations discussed are alignment, which focuses on setting clear expectations, and styles, where colleagues understand different working preferences. These structured dialogues are essential for career development, helping employees navigate workplace dynamics effectively.
Managing up is crucial for building constructive relationships with your boss, requiring ongoing efforts to align priorities, provide tailored feedback, and ensure a mutual understanding of work goals.
The alignment conversation focuses on establishing clear expectations between you and your manager, clarifying what success looks like to ensure both parties are working towards the same objectives.
Melody Wilding emphasizes that managing up is a continual process, enriched by ten key conversations that guide individuals in navigating their relationships with superiors effectively.
Understanding and acknowledging different working styles can significantly enhance collaboration and productivity, allowing both the employee and manager to achieve more successful outcomes.
Read at Harvard Business Review
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