Modern workplaces no longer rest solely on a manager's ability to lead a team. An employee's success has become equally linked to their capacity to build an effective professional relationship with their direct manager. In a world of mounting professional challenges and rapid decision-making, the concept of "managing up" has emerged as one of the most important workplace skills — helping employees achieve their career goals and improve their prospects for growth and advancement within an organisation.
Recent management studies and research confirm that the quality of the relationship between an employee and their manager is among the most significant factors influencing job satisfaction, productivity, and professional commitment.
Research published by the Harvard Business Review indicates that building a strong and productive relationship with one's manager is not a form of flattery or manoeuvring, but rather a professional approach aimed at achieving shared interests and enhancing institutional performance.
The art of managing up refers to an employee's ability to understand how their manager thinks, works, and makes decisions, and to engage with them in a professional manner that helps both parties achieve their objectives.
It differs entirely from attempting to control or influence a manager through unprofessional means. Instead, it is grounded in effective communication, mutual trust, anticipating needs, and offering solutions.
Management experts argue that a successful employee does not limit themselves to carrying out daily tasks, but takes care to understand their manager's priorities, decision-making processes, and the pressures they face — all of which helps build a more harmonious and productive working relationship.
The greatest challenge lies in the fact that managers are not a single type. There is the decisive manager, the hesitant one, the innovator, the detail-oriented one, the quick decision-maker, the manager who prefers teamwork, and the one who tends toward independence.
For this reason, specialists stress that the first step in managing the relationship with a manager begins with understanding their personality and management style, and knowing the way they prefer to communicate, receive information, and make decisions.
Research from the global Gallup organisation indicates that a manager plays a pivotal role in employee engagement and job satisfaction, and that regular, clear communication between a manager and their staff measurably raises levels of interaction and productivity. Studies also show that employees who enjoy a positive relationship with their managers tend to be more committed to their work and better positioned for professional growth.
Gallup also found that regular meetings and ongoing communication between a manager and an employee are among the most prominent factors that enhance employee participation and support institutional performance.
Human resources experts have identified seven steps for mastering the art of managing up:
- Understand how your manager thinks. Dedicate time to learning your manager's working style, how they set priorities, and what they focus on when evaluating performance.
- Choose the right communication style. Some managers prefer formal written messages; others prefer direct discussion or quick meetings. Selecting the right channel saves time and reduces misunderstandings.
- Be part of the solution. When raising a problem, try to present practical proposals alongside it. Managers value employees who think proactively.
- Take the initiative. An employee who steps forward and demonstrates the ability to handle challenges becomes more valuable to their manager and gains a greater presence in important projects.
- Keep your messages clear. Present your ideas and needs in a concise, direct manner, free from lengthy elaboration or unnecessary complexity.
- Keep your manager informed. Unpleasant surprises are among the things that most frustrate managers. Make a point of informing them of any developments or challenges that may affect the workflow.
- Appreciate their efforts sincerely. Expressing genuine appreciation to a manager when real successes are achieved helps strengthen mutual trust — provided it is done in a professional manner, free from exaggeration.
Management experts emphasise that "managing up" does not mean flattery or seeking approval at any price. Rather, it means building a professional partnership grounded in trust, mutual understanding, and the pursuit of shared goals. The more capable an employee is of understanding their manager and communicating with them effectively, the greater their chances of success and career advancement.
In the context of the rapid transformations reshaping the labour market, this skill today stands as one of the most important tools employees need to build a stable and successful career — and to transform the relationship with their manager from a merely supervisory one into a genuine partnership that supports the institutional success of all.