Managing Up

Managing Up
By Bob Moore, CMC, MCC, The Effectiveness Coach®

Word Count: 399 Words
Reading Time: Less then 3 minutes

Most of us have a manager or someone “above” us in the organization with whom we must relate effectively. Even business owners have stake holders who may tend to behave like managers. You can improve these relationships by learning to communicate more effectively.

First, take responsibility for the effectiveness of your communication, particularly when you have the greatest stake in the outcome. Be sure you are having a dialogue, not simultaneous monologues.

It is unlikely you can change your manager’s or key stakeholders’ operating style and recognize how they want to receive information. For example, some prefer brief overviews with little detail unless they ask for it. Others demand lots of detail and may routinely ask for more and more and more until they get what they need.

Also remember the pace and intensity with which others want information presented. This can range from slow-pace and methodical to a fast paced, high energy delivery which can be a major challenge unless this is your natural style. The key is to be willing to adjust for the duration of the interaction by getting out of your comfort zone. This is far better than mis-communicating.

In addition to effective communication, understand the environment others operate in. Chances are your manager is busier now than ever and has a greater need for useful input and accurate information. Regardless of your manager's style, be sure to alert him or her of any problems or opportunities as soon as they arise. Whenever possible attempt to deal with issues at your level and either solve the problem or bring options for your manager to consider.

Finally, it is essential to learn how to deal effectively with conflict or differing opinions. Be cautious when you and your manager share the tendency to face issues directly or to become headstrong during confrontations. Some managers may be less concerned about damaging the relationship and to focus on winning at any cost. Generally, this is an approach you cannot afford to use. Always focus on resolving the conflict rather than winning the argument. It may determine how well you are endorsed and get what you need to succeed.

Self Management and Relationship Management are components of emotional intelligence (EQ) which is a core competency. A periodic EQ assessment is helpful to raise your awareness of how well you handle yourself and the important relationships in your life.

Enthusiastically,

Bob

Bob Moore, CMC®, President
Effectiveness, Inc/The Effectiveness Coach®
Aligning Human Capital with Strategic Objectives

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