The Art of Managing Up

Traditional Classroom: 1-day
Virtual Instructor-led: Two 3-3.5 hour sessions; Three 2-hour sessions

Managing up — this may be the most valuable “soft skill” you will need to “manage” your own career. This isn’t about brown-nosing; it’s about understanding your boss, knowing who you are, and building real relationships with the people who have influence over your career. Managing up done correctly is good for you, good for your boss, and good for the organization. This session gives you strategies for developing these all-important connections and building more than rapport; you will learn how to quickly assess situations and determine which actions will move things forward. It’s a skill that can do more for your career than simply networking ever could.

Target Audience

Individuals who will benefit from this course include anyone from individual contributors to leaders working from leaders.

Learning Objectives

Determine what managing up is and is not.
Identify the key challenges to managing upward.
Understand the needs and expectations of your manager.
Utilize strategies for managing up.
Use influencing and persuasion techniques.

Course Outline

Module 1: Know Yourself

Your Leadership Style
What Is Managing Up?
Understanding Yourself

Module 2: Our Interaction Styles

Interaction Styles^® Self-Assessment
Interaction Styles^® Concepts
Your Preferred Style
Know Your Leaders
Flexing Your Style

Module 3: Strategies for Managing Up

Provide Solutions, Not Problems
Understand Your Boss’s Perspective and Agenda
Be Aware of Strengths and Weaknesses
Know the Hot Buttons
Request and Accept Feedback
Communicate
Trust, Loyalty, and Commitment
Understand Preferences and Flex to Them
Giving Feedback and Influencing

Module 4: What Do I Do When?

Strategies to Address Specific Difficult Situations

Bringing It All Together

Action Planning — To Maintain Your Learning Momentum

MDI1412a Course Code

For more information on this topic, as well as how Corporate Education Group can help power your organization’s performance, contact us via email or call 1.800.288.7246 (US only) or +1.978.649.8200. You can also use our Information Request Form!

Practice Area

Management and Leadership