A Checklist for Managing Up

     Managing up may be an unfamiliar term to many people. At one level, it may seem a manipulative term. At other levels it begins to make sense in most of our interpersonal activities. Wouldn’t it be more efficient and effective if we could dispense with the elements of communicating with others that interfere with focused interaction?

      In the business situation, it can be helpful for both the boss and the subordinate to understand the efficiency achievable by engaging in this methodology. As a boss, educate your people about how they can manage you. You will detect a shift in how much more smoothly your business operates. Where you have a boss, you will find that being at work can be a nearly friction-free experience.

About the list

      The list below is a place to look in guiding your behavior in the "chain of command." While it is comprehensive, it may not include all of what can be considered as you manage your relationship with your boss. I would appreciate "builds" or other comments on the utility of the list. Feel free to use this list and to pass it to others, as long as you retain the attribution to this site.

□ 1. I know my personal behavioral style; I have taken the DISC profile and have been debriefed.

□ 2. I have considered the similarities and dissimilarities of my style and my boss’.

□ 3. I know the measures that my boss’ boss will use to evaluate him/her.

□ 4. I have delegated or automated enough of my job to have some discretionary time

□ 5. I know when my boss is likely to be available for a short check-in about how things are progressing.

□ 6. My boss is up to speed on the important areas of my responsibility.

□ 7. I do not speak ill of my boss to anyone, even my most trusted colleagues.

□ 8. I have a copy of my boss’ goals for this and future rating periods. I refer to it often.

□ 9. I orient most of my reports to my boss around his/her goals.

□ 10. I know (I have checked this, on occasion) what vehicle (for example, in person report, e-mail summary, input into a company-wide data file such as Goldmine) my boss prefers for timely updates.

□ 11. Whenever anything appears “off” between us, I initiate a request to discuss it.

□ 12. Even when things seem to be going well between us, I initiate a request for a meeting for which I submit an agenda proposal.

□ 13. I ask about where and how I can support my boss better.

□ 14. I request that the boss conduct “after action” review/ critique with me of projects he/she has delegated to me.

□ 15. What would you, the reader, add to this list?    Email me