Two Opinions On How To Effectively Manage Up Your Relationship With Your Boss

In a previous post, we emphasized the importance of learning and being prepared to manage up at any moment independent of whether you are a manager, an employer, or an employee. Lauren Mackler, Renowned coach and author of the international bestseller, Solemate: Master the Art of Aloneness & Transform Your Life, asserts that the first thing everyone should learn about when managing up is the personality of their boss, how they operate, what they like, and what are their preferences. Knowing your boss’s personality informs you on how you would want to communicate with him: face to face, by phone, by email, or by text messages. Your boss might be one of those bosses who like to work autonomously and prefer you to meet occasionally. Find out if your boss is an introvert and prefers you solicit them with updates and information or is he an extrovert and would reach out every minute to get updates and provide instructions. Mackler also recommends that every employee “toot his own horn” as an excellent way to start managing up. Every employee is in fact required to have a list of accomplishments always ready to show performance and share it with their boss every month in a form of a completion list.

Lynn Taylor, Workplace Expert, Coach, CEO of Lynn Taylor Consulting, and author of the highly acclaimed career book, Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant; How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior & Thrive in Your Job, uses the acronym C.A.L.M (Communicate, Anticipate, Laugh, and Manage) to better manage up. Communication should be performed frequently, openly, and honestly with your boss. Anticipate when is a good time to talk and communicate with your boss. Seize every moment and occasion to bring up Laughter or use jokes from time to time to break the ice and reduce stress in the workplace. Help solve problems with your boss but also effectively Manage and set mutual expectations with your boss on how tasks should be distributed and things should be accomplished.