Upward Management: Why it matters & How to lead meetings effectively

What Is Upward Management?

Upward management is the art of managing your relationship with your manager by understanding their priorities, communication style, and expectations. It’s about making the relationship mutually beneficial - helping them succeed while enabling your own growth.

It doesn’t mean manipulation or flattery. It’s about proactively working together so you’re aligned and both performing at your best.

Why Upward Management Is Important?

1. Helps You Stand Out

Managers remember team members who make their job easier.

It builds your credibility, visibility, and trust.

2. Improves Communication and Reduces Misunderstandings

You are seen as someone who takes ownership and keeps them informed.

3. Enables You to Get What You Need

Whether it’s resources, feedback, or career opportunities, managing up ensures your goals and development stay on their radar.

4. Supports Career Growth

Good relationships with managers often lead to stronger performance reviews, recommendations, and promotions.

5. Creates a Healthy Work Environment

It fosters mutual respect and trust, leading to better collaboration and less micromanagement.

Key principles and practical tips

1. Know their priorities - Understand what matters to them and aim to align your work with their goals wherever feasible.

2. Adapt to their style - Are they detail-oriented or big-picture oriented? Do they prefer email or face-to-face? Adapt accordingly.

3. Communicate proactively - Don’t wait to be asked—update them on progress and potential issues.

4. Solve problems - Try to focus on solutions or options when highlighting challenges.

5. Respect their time - Be concise, focused, and respect their schedule.

6. Ask for feedback - Regular feedback helps you adjust before small issues grow.

7. Be reliable - Deliver consistently. Trust is built on following through.

8. Make them look good - If they succeed, you succeed. Support their initiatives and give credit when due.

9. Understand their stress points - What pressures are they under (ex- Deadlines, senior management demands etc.). Show empathy and help lighten their load where possible.

10.Stay professional & positive - Focus on what works. Maintain a positive, can-do attitude.

These points can be condensed to 3A's (Ask, Align, Act)

Ask - Ask about priorities, expectations, and preferences.

Align - Align your work with their goals and communication style.

Act - Take initiative, follow through, and deliver results.

Identifying 4 personality types and leading effective meetings

According to the book "Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson there are 4 common personality types. We often oscillate between multiple types. In my personal opinion, it's crucial to identify your manager's personality type and lead structured and effective meetings accordingly. Here is a template inspired by the knowledge shared in the book-

Type	Do this	Avoid this	Sample Questions	Build rapport by
Red (Dominant, Result-oriented, Direct)	·       Be clear, concise, and action oriented. ·       Focus on outcomes and efficiency.	·       Small talk ·       Unnecessary details ·       Indecision and delays	·       What is the most important result you want to see from this project/initiative? ·       How can I take more ownership to move things faster? ·       Would you prefer a quick update or detailed report?	Showing results early, Solving problems before they ask.
Yellow (Optimistic, People-oriented, Visionary)	·       Show enthusiasm, discuss ideas, engage in brainstorming. ·       Keep things energetic and positive.	·       Overloading with data ·       Negativity ·       Rigid structures ·       Dismissing their ideas	·       I have some creative ideas for this – would you like to brainstorm? ·       What’s your vision for this project, and how can I help bring it to life? ·       How can I contribute to keeping the team engaged?	Sharing ideas and engaging in brainstorming.
Green (Supportive, Stability-oriented, Team Player)	·       Be patient, collaborative, and show appreciation. ·       Give them time to process changes.	·       Rushing them/sudden changes ·       Pushing too hard for changes ·       Causing conflict	·       How can I support the team better? ·       Would you prefer regular updates to ensure everything stays on track? ·       Are there any changes coming that I should prepare for?	Building trust over time and respecting their routines.
Blue (Analytical, Detail-oriented, Perfectionist)	·       Be structured, precise, and thorough. ·       Back up points with data.	·       Vague language ·       Lack of details ·       Last-minute surprises	·       Do you prefer a detailed report or an executive summary first? ·       What metrics should I focus on to measure success? ·       Would a more structured update help streamline communication?	Being well-prepared and delivering detailed, accurate work.

To recapitulate, managing up is not extra work, it is smart work! When we understand how to collaborate with our manager effectively, we create a partnership that drives both our growths. It can help build trust, improve visibility and open new opportunities for mentorship or sponsorship in the future!

References and related resources-

1. Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson

2. https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/surrounded-by-idiots-book-review