Ways to Work Better with Your Boss for Career Growth
In today’s workplace, technical skills and qualifications are only a part of what leads to career success, but are not the entirety of what is needed to succeed as a career professional. One often-overlooked skill and arguably one of the most important is the ability to manage up.
Managing up doesn’t mean manipulating or sucking up to your boss. It means building a productive, respectful relationship that allows both of you to succeed. For employees and job seekers alike, this skill is a major career booster. Let’s explore what managing up means, why it matters, and how to do it effectively.
What is Managing Up?
Managing up is the process of learning how to work effectively with your manager by understanding their goals, preferences, work style, and communication methods, then adapting your approach to align with theirs. It’s about collaboration, not competition.
Think of it as building a bridge between you and your boss. When that bridge is strong, information flows more freely, trust is built, and work becomes smoother for everyone involved.
Why Managing Up Matters
As a career professional, your relationship with your direct supervisor can make or break your experience. A positive working relationship with your manager can:
- Lead to faster promotions and professional development
- Increase your job satisfaction and reduce stress
- Help you gain access to growth opportunities, mentorship, and visibility
- Improve team collaboration and overall performance
On the other hand, a strained relationship with your boss can lead to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and even burnout.
Understanding Your Boss is the First Step
To manage up well, you need to understand who your boss is, not just their title, but their personality, strengths, stress triggers, and expectations. Ask yourself:
- What are their top priorities?
- What are their strengths and weaknesses?
- How do they prefer to communicate — emails, meetings, voice notes, reports?
- Do they appreciate initiative or prefer to stay in control of tasks?
The more insight you gain into how they work and what they value, the more effectively you can support them.
8 Ways to Work Better With Your Boss
1. Align With Their Goals
Your manager is accountable to someone, just like you are accountable to them. Understanding what they’re being measured by and helping them succeed at those goals naturally puts you in a favorable position. Ask for clarity if you’re unsure about where the team is headed.
2. Be Proactive
Don’t wait to be told what to do. Look for ways to add value, solve problems, anticipate needs, and offer solutions before being asked. Proactivity shows leadership and reliability.
3. Communicate Effectively
Keep your boss in the loop without overloading them. Share updates on progress, flag issues early, and be honest when you need help. Good communication builds trust and reduces the chances of misunderstandings.
4. Adapt to Their Work Style
If your manager is a visual person, send charts or slides. If they’re a talker, schedule quick meetings. Matching your communication style to theirs helps your message land better and keeps the working relationship smooth.
5. Deliver Consistently
Being dependable is non-negotiable. Meet deadlines. Show up prepared. Finish what you start. When your boss sees you as someone they can count on, you’re more likely to be trusted with bigger tasks and leadership roles.
6. Respect Their Time
Don’t bring problems without thinking of possible solutions first. Prepare for meetings. Keep your updates brief and focused. Your boss’s time is valuable, and respecting it shows professionalism.
7. Give Constructive Feedback
Yes, managing up sometimes includes giving feedback to your boss, especially if something is affecting your work. Be respectful, focus on solutions, and keep it private. Many good managers appreciate honest communication from their team.
8. Build Trust
Trust is the foundation of any strong working relationship. Be honest about your workload, take responsibility for mistakes, and don’t hide challenges. Transparency creates mutual respect.
Managing Up in Remote or Hybrid Workplaces
Remote work has changed how we manage up. Without face-to-face interaction, it’s even more important to communicate clearly and frequently. Be intentional about:
- Scheduling check-ins or weekly updates
- Using the right tools (Slack, Zoom, email) effectively
- Setting expectations for availability and deadlines
Don’t assume your boss knows what you’re doing; make your efforts visible.
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For Job Seekers: Start Practicing Before You’re Hired
Managing up doesn’t start when you land the job — it starts during the interview process. Pay attention to how your potential manager communicates, what their team values, and how decisions are made. Ask thoughtful questions like:
- “How do you prefer to receive updates or progress reports?”
- “What are the biggest challenges your team is facing right now?”
- “What does success look like in this role within the first 3 months?”
This shows you’re already thinking ahead and willing to work collaboratively.
Final Thoughts
Managing up is not about doing your boss’s job or trying to control them. It’s about making collaboration easier by understanding how to best work together. It’s a professional skill that requires emotional intelligence, adaptability, and empathy, and it’s one that pays off throughout your career.
Whether you’re climbing the ladder, pivoting to a new industry, or seeking your next big opportunity, mastering how to manage up can help you stand out and thrive.