Harnessing the Power of Managing Up: Essential Skills for Career Progression

In our workplace ecosystem, managers are important stakeholders. As managers, we are taught to manage resources (Men, Machine, Material, and Money). Often, "Men" is seen only as one's team members. The reality is that our bosses have a significant influence on what we do and what we do not. Regardless of the leadership or managerial style they possess, we need to learn to manage them. It's an art, not science.

Managing up is an essential skill that involves aligning one's work style with the manager's goals and communication preferences to foster a productive partnership. To effectively manage up, it’s essential to recognize and adapt to your boss's management style. It's important to understand your boss's:

1. Communication style

2. Goals

3. Relationship with others

4. Approach to various issues and situations

The book "Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work and Succeed with Any Type of Boss," written by Mary Abbajay, covers this comprehensively. I recommend reading that book to gain a deeper understanding.

Difficult bosses can be grouped as follows, depending on their working style and traits:

1. Micro-Managers

2. Hands-off, Absentee, or Ghost Bosses

3. The Narcissists

4. The Impulsive Bosses

5. The Pushovers

6. Best Friend Bosses

7. Workaholics

8. Incompetent Bosses

9. Nitpickers

10. Truly Terrible Bullies

The book details each type and specific approaches that one can take. At a macro level, you will need to build your skills and adapt your style accordingly. Areas to focus on include

• communication and updates,

• collaborating with your boss,

• seeking help from your boss or others, and

• empathizing with your boss to understand what is driving their behavior.

If nothing works, it is important to make a decision on quitting. Quitting should be the last resort after all your efforts have failed.