Great employees understand that managing up is just as important as managing their own workload. It’s about building a strong, productive relationship with their boss and making their job easier while also advancing their own career. Here are some key strategies they use:

1. Understand Your Boss’s Goals & Priorities

• What keeps them up at night?
• What are their key performance metrics?
• How does your work fit into their bigger picture?
• The more you align with their objectives, the more valuable you become.

2. Communicate Proactively & Clearly

• No surprises. Keep your boss informed of progress, challenges, and solutions.
• Adapt to their preferred communication style—do they prefer Slack messages, emails, or quick calls?
• Be concise and solution-focused when presenting problems.

3. Anticipate Needs & Solve Problems

• Think a few steps ahead. If you foresee a challenge, bring solutions, not just issues.
• Offer to take things off their plate—especially tasks that align with your strengths.

4. Be Reliable & Deliver Results

• Nothing builds trust like consistency.
• Meet (or beat) deadlines and exceed expectations when possible.
• Own up to mistakes and fix them quickly.

5. Make Them Look Good

• If they succeed, you succeed.
• Support their initiatives and provide insights that help them make better decisions.
• Acknowledge their leadership in front of others (but don’t be a suck-up).

6. Set Boundaries & Manage Expectations

• Don’t be a yes-person—pushing back when necessary (with reasoning) earns respect.
• If you’re overloaded, communicate it early rather than missing deadlines.

7. Understand Their Weaknesses & Work Around Them

• If they’re disorganized, help streamline things.
• If they micromanage, build trust by keeping them updated before they ask.
• If they’re slow to respond, find alternative ways to get input.

8. Develop a Partnership Mindset

• Treat the relationship as a collaboration, not a hierarchy.
• Be proactive about growing within the company and helping the team succeed.

9. Seek Feedback & Act on It

• Regularly check in to see how you can improve.
• Show that you take their feedback seriously and apply it.

10. Stay Positive & Professional

• Stay composed under pressure.
• Don’t gossip or bad-mouth leadership—nothing good comes from it.
• Be someone they can count on to bring positive energy and solutions.

Managing up isn’t about manipulation—it’s about building a mutually beneficial relationship where both you and your boss thrive.