How to Manage a Manager

       

‘Bless their heart’ is all you can say sometimes.  They’re overwhelmed, dropping the deadline ball, and everyone knows they probably shouldn’t have the job.  You know this superior.  Whether you’re working with a superior like this or you’ve heard tales of this superior.  This article is for you.

Sometimes people receive positions they are truly unqualified for and they start to slowly fall apart under the amount of pressure and obligations they just aren’t ready for.  They are just as aware, if not more, about their shortcomings.  Is this your fault or your problem? Absolutely not!  But this is a great opportunity for you to grow your own managerial skills and manage up!

What does manage up even mean? The University of TexasHealth Science Center at San Antonio quote Thomas Zuber and Erika James’ definition as ‘the process of consciously working with your boss to obtain the best possible results for YOU, your boss, and your organization’.  Also stating it’s not about manipulation or kissing up, but rather a ‘deliberate effort to bring understanding to a relationship between individuals with different perspectives’.  All great skills helpful for a successful superior.  So in order to continue to advance your office, yourself, and your superior you must learn to manage up.  Managing up can be extremely frustrating, I definitely know the feeling.  It’s even more frustrating when you realize your abilities probably fit the role better and yet you’re stuck in your current position.  So instead of being spiteful or throwing your boss under the bus, why not advance your skills and look to your next position?  Here are 6 ways to effectively Manage Up:

1.  Manage expectations.  This is something you should do with any co-worker or superior period.  Manage your expectations of what the superior is really capable of.  If your superior has never been good with project management, don’t expect for them to be able to manage 3 and 4 projects at a time.  Managing up is just as much about managing your superior as well as managing yourself.  Expect the results you’ve been given and then find ways for you to advance the office while advancing your abilities.
2. Set boundaries.  Set periodic meetings with your superior to talk about what and how you’re handling your projects.  This is great because you’re not only updating your superior on your progress but also showing tactics and skills your superior could emulate.  Volunteering to assist with projects is great, but understand you are not here to do your and someone else’s job.  Set a boundary for how many projects you are able to takeover; don’t become a scapegoat.
3. Stay organized.  The worst thing for you and your office is for everyone to be disorganized.  Use a calendar, sticky notes, email reminder whatever, just make sure you’re handling your business.  You may not believe it but what you’re doing is not going unnoticed.  If a superior sees their employees production is higher than theirs, they will start to take notice of your habits.  This will also keep projects moving forward as well as having small victories by showing completed tasks.
4. Be okay with not getting the credit.  There are times when you’re voice is not the voice that needs to be heard or will be best received.  This is a great time to meet with your boss and toss ‘suggestions’ out or plant the seed to get your superior thinking.  In the midst of drowning, your superior is not thinking about anything but the problem in front of them.  So why not steer the car from the passenger seat? No you won’t get the crowd approval or credit, but you can still put the collaboration in your portfolio and resume.  
5. Don’t participate in office gossip.  Everyone knows your superior is struggling.  That isn’t new.  There’s no point to continue to rehash and discuss their shortcomings.  All that will do is breed a resentment and impatient point of view towards that person.  When the scuttlebutt starts, sneak off and think about how you are going to get your ideas implemented instead.
6. Remember you’re gaining managerial skills.  You are learning to communicate with a person probably opposite of you and someone who is struggling with their duties.  A leader is someone who can speak with differing personalities and still get the same message across.  So, if you can learn to communicate your ideas and get results, how well do you think you’ll do managing employees? You are learning how particular leadership skills are portrayed to employees, and what you need to do to avoid resentment and frustration.

Do you have any other ideas or comments on how to manage up?  If so, leave a comment below.  I'd love to hear your experiences.