At a recent conference, “managing up” came up as one of the key topics of conversation and it is easy to see why. For many middle leaders, communicating effectively with senior leadership is one of the most consistently challenging parts of the role, and one of the least supported.
The good news is that managing up is a learnable skill. It is not about managing around your line manager or working the system in your favour, it’s about building a productive, trust-based relationship with those above you; one where you are clear, credible and consistent in how you communicate upward.
In practice, that means a few things. It means going into upward conversations with a clear objective, knowing whether you are looking for a decision, guidance, or simply to flag something for awareness. It means framing your point around impact, specifically the impact on organisational goals, so that your senior leader immediately understands why this matters and where it sits in the wider picture. And it also means being concise, not because senior leaders cannot handle detail, but because clarity is a form of respect for someone else’s time and attention.
One of the most practical pieces of advice, for managers who find these conversations difficult, is to practise. Run through what you want to say with a trusted colleague beforehand, or talk it through out loud on your own. Waffling is almost always a confidence issue, and preparation is the most reliable solution to it.
Every time a middle leader communicates upward with clarity and purpose, they are building credibility. Over time, that credibility translates into trust, autonomy, and a more effective working relationship with senior leadership.
If managing up is something your team regularly struggles with, it is worth addressing directly, not just as a communication skill, but as part of how your managers are developed and supported. It rarely gets better by accident. If you would like to talk through how The Managers Training Company can help, give us a call.
Categories: Sector News
