I have been working with a coachee - we will call him, John - a new people manager with a decade of experience in tech as an individual contributor. His initial focus was honing his skills in team management. Together, we tackled diverse aspects of leadership: leveraging team strengths, balancing oversight with autonomy, fostering empathy while maintaining high standards, and mentoring through example. A year into his managerial journey, John has confidently carved his niche as a respected leader, with his team showing remarkable progress. However, during our recent session, he brought up a whole new challenge, one he hadn’t thought too much about in his first year as a manager: the subtle yet crucial art of managing his boss. Tricky stuff!
The concept of managing up, while often underappreciated in workplace dynamics, is crucial not just for John's personal career progression but also for garnering support from his own manager to maximize his team's performance. Inspired by John and our work together, I wanted to share some thoughts and strategies for managing your boss as a people manager:
1. Understand Your Boss
Effective management of your boss starts with a deep understanding of their needs, working style, pressures, and expectations. Recognize that your boss has their own set of strengths, weaknesses, and areas they might not see clearly. This endeavor isn't about seeking perfection in them but about fostering a relationship that works well for both of you. By grasping your boss's goals and vision for the company, you can identify areas of alignment. This insight allows you to either align your team's efforts with these goals or tactfully influence the direction in ways that might address potential oversights.
2. Align with Your Boss's and Organization's Objectives
Understanding your manager's objectives is just the first step; the next is to align your team's efforts with these goals, and even better, with the broader objectives of the management chain. This alignment underscores the vital role of cooperation, reliability, and transparency in enhancing your boss's effectiveness, thus fostering a relationship that benefits everyone involved.
When you grasp the organization's wider goals, you gain insight into how your team can contribute meaningfully and position themselves strategically. This approach goes beyond merely completing tasks; it’s about actively contributing to overarching objectives, thereby establishing yourself and your team as crucial to the organization’s success. Being well-informed about both your boss's and the organization’s goals allows you to proactively offer your and your team's skills in high-impact and high-visibility projects. This not only benefits your team’s growth and exposure but also reflects positively on your boss, enhancing their standing with their superiors and peers. Such strategic alignment is a win-win for all, reinforcing the value of your team within the larger company framework.
3. Adapt to Your Boss's Working Style (and brief them about yours!)
Adapting to your boss’s working style is a key aspect of managing up. Examine their approach to management and personality traits. Are they detail-oriented or big-picture thinkers? Do they prefer to be hands-on or to delegate? Understanding whether they desire involvement in every decision or just in critical moments enables you to engage with them more effectively.
It's important to stress here that adapting doesn’t mean losing your individuality or altering your core working style. It’s about recognizing their strengths and preferences, and incorporating this understanding into your interactions. Communication is a two-way street; share your own preferences and needs as well. Find common ground and identify potential areas of conflict. To develop a truly effective working relationship, it's important to be self-aware. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and work style. While you cannot change your fundamental personality or that of your boss, awareness of your traits can help navigate and optimize the way you work together. This understanding paves the way for actions that enhance the effectiveness of your relationship.
4. Employ Effective Communication Techniques
Mastering communication with your boss is pivotal. Start by discerning if they are more of a listener or a reader, and tailor your communication approach to suit this preference. Some managers may favor in-depth reports, while others might lean towards brief, succinct summaries. It's essential to determine the most effective channels and optimal times for conveying information to ensure it's received and understood in the best possible manner.
You can uncover their communication style through various methods: consult colleagues who have prior experience working with them, inquire directly, or observe their interactions and responses over time. Often, a combination of these approaches yields the best insights. Once you have a clearer understanding, align your communication methods with their preferences. This sensitivity to their style not only facilitates clearer communication but also demonstrates your adaptability and consideration for their working methods.
5. Navigate the “Hot Buttons”
Understanding your boss's triggers or “hot buttons” is a critical component of managing up effectively. Being aware of their pet peeves or particular stressors allows you to preemptively address potential issues and avoid unnecessary conflicts. For example, if your boss places a high value on receiving weekly updates every Friday in a specific spreadsheet format (in the case of John's boss, for instance), ensure you meet this expectation consistently. Similarly, if punctuality is a key concern for them (something an old manager of mine told me was her 'pet peeve'), make it a point to always be on time.
Being attuned to these details not only helps in maintaining a smooth working relationship but also demonstrates your attentiveness and respect for their preferences. It's about making small adjustments in your behavior that can significantly enhance your interactions and overall rapport with your boss. These proactive steps show that you value their work style and are committed to fostering a harmonious and productive working environment.
6. Understand the Management Chain Hierarchy of Pressure
It’s crucial to acknowledge the cascade of pressure that flows through the organizational hierarchy. The stress that your boss experiences from their superiors often finds its way to you. It's important to approach this reality with empathy and seek ways to mitigate this pressure when possible.
You don't need to play the role of a therapist or anything, but you can facilitate a smoother working relationship by simply asking, “What can I do to help?” You will be surprised how open and collaborative your boss might feel, when you are genuinely interested in helping to reach the goal they are hoping to / being asked to reach together.
One time during a year-end Business Review meeting, when I noticed my boss was unusually tense and frustrated, I inquired about the cause. She mentioned intense pressure from her manager about a specific productivity metric. Responding to this, I proposed and later implemented a strategic plan to not only meet but exceed this metric. This initiative led to a series of positive outcomes: relief for my boss from her superior's pressure, fulfillment of her superior's goals, an opportunity for me to lead a critical project, and enhanced productivity and visibility for our team. This situation exemplifies a multi-layered victory, a 'win-win-win', showcasing how getting on board with and responding to the pressures within the management chain can lead to benefits for all!
7. Maximize Performance Review Opportunities
Performance appraisals should be seen not just as feedback sessions but as valuable opportunities to highlight your accomplishments, establish clear expectations, and discuss any concerns or issues that may not be on your boss's radar. Utilize these meetings to articulate your career goals and express your eagerness for opportunities that can aid your professional growth and development. It's not uncommon that I hear from people managers that they invest so much time in talking about their team's career goals and professional development, that they rarely talk about themselves, but managers, too, are employees! A performance review session is a chance to demonstrate your ambition and readiness to take on new challenges and stretch responsibilities. It also serves as an ideal platform for aligning your career aspirations with the organization’s needs, ensuring that you get the growth opportunities you seek while contributing meaningfully to the company’s objectives.
8. Leverage Your Boss Effectively
It’s a common misconception among many managers that they don’t heavily rely on their bosses. They often underestimate the extent of assistance and information they can use from their managers to perform their roles more effectively or get to outcomes more quickly. This oversight can be detrimental, especially in cases where a manager’s decisions significantly impact other parts of the organization. Your immediate boss is pivotal in connecting you to the broader organization, ensuring your priorities align with the company's goals, and in securing necessary resources for your success. They also ideally can mentor you and advise you when you feel lost or in need of someone to bounce ideas off of.
Additionally, some managers, like John, sometimes fall into the trap of expecting their bosses to intuitively understand and cater to their needs. While some bosses are indeed proactive in supporting their subordinates, expecting this level of care from all is unrealistic and potentially risky (in that you might not get it!). The most effective people take charge of their own careers, professional development, as well as their team's performance. Instead of passively waiting for their bosses to provide what they need, they proactively seek out essential information and assistance. This proactive approach not only helps in achieving personal career goals but also ensures that you are adequately equipped to fulfill your job responsibilities to achieve a healthy, high-performing team.
9. Foster Strong Relationships Across the Organization
While it's great for your boss to hear about your and your team's achievements from you, it gains an added layer of credibility when others in the organization, such as her peers or superiors, also recognize and speak about your accomplishments. Building a network of positive relationships across different departments and levels within the company can lead to a broader base of support and advocacy for your work. These connections can be instrumental in providing diverse perspectives, opening up new opportunities for collaboration, and amplifying your team’s impact within the organization. Additionally, it demonstrates your ability to engage and influence beyond your immediate team, showcasing your leadership and interpersonal skills in a wider organizational context.
10. Facilitate Your Boss's Engagement with Your Team
Inviting your boss to engage more closely with your team can have multiple benefits. It not only motivates your team, as they feel their work is being recognized and understood at higher levels, but it also provides you with valuable support in managing your team.
When your boss interacts with your team, ensure it’s not to micromanage and hover over you (which would, obviously, have the opposite effect!) but to communicate broader company goals, listen to their insights, and acknowledge their contributions. This interaction boosts team morale and enhances your standing as a leader who facilitates meaningful connections. Increased visibility of your team's efforts to your boss can lead to a better understanding of your team's value, keeping you and your team in mind for future opportunities. Once again a triple win situation – your team feels valued, you cement your leadership role, and your boss gains a deeper appreciation of your team's contributions to the organization.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the essence of managing your boss lies in fostering a relationship that is both productive and mutually advantageous. This strategic approach simplifies your job and paves the way for both career advancement and personal growth. By understanding your boss's needs and adapting your work style accordingly, you can create a more healthy and effective working environment. Remember, when your boss is more effective, so are you!
#Management #LeadershipCoaching #NewManagers #ManageYourManager #ManageYourBoss #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching
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