There is plenty of advice out there on how to lead and manage teams, and we at ABS have presented many of these. However, in a recent Business News Daily blog Nicole Fallen Taylor writes about a different perspective to managing – managing your boss, or managing up. You can read the full article here, but following is a brief summary of the main features.
Don’t be afraid to manage up – which essentially is learning what your boss’s work style is and adapting to it for achieving the best possible results for the team. Remember though that every boss is different, and one size does not fit all. Also remember that your boss has many more people to worry about than just you, so don’t be too pushy or all-consuming. The author provides a few tips on what might help in this process:
- Earn your boss’ trust
- Build friendly rapport
- Learn how they prefer to work
- Leave your ego at the door and commit to your manager’s and company’s goals
- Give regular feedback (but don’t nag)
- Don’t take up all their time – they have more to do than just listen to you
- When invited – provide honest feedback
- Be aware of your boss’ communication preferences
- Don’t catch them off-guard!
- Show that you’re a team player
- Don’t try and micromanage your boss
- Look to add value to the team, for example:
- Keep cool under pressure
- Offer solutions, not just problems
- Mentor junior staff
And most importantly, managing up is not sucking up! It is all about the success of the team, where everybody wins.
The Avondale Business School can help you and your team develop leadership skills – find out how by contacting Warrick Long at the Avondale Business School.
P: 02 4980 2168