05 Jan 9 Tips to Managing Up and Influencing Effectively
Managing Up: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Do It Well
You’ve probably heard the phrase “managing up,” but what does it really mean, and why has it become such a critical leadership skill?
In today’s fast-moving, hybrid, and often matrixed work environments, managing up is no longer optional. It’s a core capability for professionals who want to grow their influence, accelerate their careers, and become more effective leaders, no matter their level.
This topic continues to be a popular focus in Menttium’s mentoring partnerships. Many mentees choose to work on managing up because it directly impacts visibility, trust, decision-making, and long-term career success. Exploring this topic in our Cross-Company Mentoring program provides an excellent opportunity to experiment in a risk-free environment.
Why Managing Up Matters More Than Ever
At its core, managing up benefits everyone involved including you, your manager, and your organization.
When done well, managing up helps you:
- Take ownership of your career and work experience
- Build stronger, more productive relationships with leaders and decision-makers
- Increase your influence and credibility
- Navigate change, competing priorities, and limited resources
- Become a better leader for those you manage and collaborate with
Whether you’re an individual contributor, a people manager, or a senior leader, managing up allows you to work effectively with any leadership style, especially in complex organizations where clarity and alignment are critical.
“In business, [understanding culture and organizational politics] is an integral part of getting stuff done. There’s always somebody above you concerned with the allocation of resources of money, capital, people, project approval or whatever. You have to influence people; you have to build a network.”
— James Gwaltney, Menttium Mentor
What Is Managing Up?
Managing up is the ability to intentionally and effectively influence your manager and other leaders above you.
While it often refers to your direct manager, managing up also includes:
- Your manager’s peers
- Senior leaders and executives
- Key stakeholders who influence decisions
It starts with understanding your leader’s priorities, communication style, pressures, and decision-making preferences and then adapting your approach so your ideas are heard, trusted, and acted upon.
Another way to think about managing up?
It’s about becoming a strong, empowered follower which is a powerful form of leadership.
“Be intentional, know the audience you are trying to influence, and get to know people on a personal level. Ask leading questions, but know the answer to those questions before you ask them so you are literally guiding the person you’re trying to influence to get them to where you want them to be. But they’re coming to the decision on their own. And I think that’s key.”
— Pam Hollander, Menttium Mentor
9 Practical Tips to Manage Up and Influence Effectively
1. Reduce friction for your manager
Ask yourself regularly: Am I adding work or taking work off my boss’s plate? Strong managing up makes leaders’ jobs easier, not harder.
2. Be proactive and solution-oriented
Don’t just surface problems. Bring recommendations, options, or a proposed path forward.
3. Communicate at your manager’s level
Frame your work in terms of outcomes, priorities, and business impact—not just tasks or activities.
4. Understand how you’re perceived
Do you know how your manager and senior leaders view your contributions, reliability, and leadership potential?
5. Make your impact visible
Share progress, results, and wins, especially those tied to business goals. Visibility matters.
6. Speak up with confidence
If you see things differently, say so. Thoughtful dissent builds trust and credibility when done respectfully.
7. Manage emotion without losing passion
Passion is powerful, but clarity wins. Keep emotion from clouding your message when influencing leaders.
8. Learn the culture and navigate it well
Every organization has informal dynamics and politics. Building relationships across teams isn’t optional, it’s essential.
9. Flex your communication style
Adapt how you communicate based on your leader’s preferences and those of other key stakeholders.
Want to Go Deeper? Recommended Resources
- HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across – Harvard Business Review Press
A practical, classic guide to influencing effectively at work. - Managing Up by Mary Abbajay
Actionable strategies for succeeding with different boss styles. - Throwing the Elephant by Stanley Bing
A creative, metaphor-driven take on managing up that offers fresh perspective.
You can also find many insightful podcasts on managing up, featuring real-world stories of success and lessons learned the hard way.