Managing up” can sound uncomfortable—especially in STEM, where independence and technical excellence are often emphasized.

But managing up isn’t about flattery or control. It’s about creating clarity, alignment, and trust so your work—and your manager’s decisions—are more effective.

Professionals who master this skill experience less friction, more autonomy, and faster growth.

Your manager:
1️⃣Sets priorities
2️⃣Allocates resources
3️⃣Advocates for you when you’re not in the room

When communication is unclear, even great work can miss the mark. Managing up ensures your effort translates into impact.

🧠3 Practical Ways to Manage Up (Without Feeling Awkward)

1. Boundary around ownership
Don’t assume alignment—confirm it.
Useful questions include:
- “What does success look like for you here?”
- “Are we optimizing for speed, accuracy, or learning?”

Clarity upfront prevents rework later.

2. Communicate outcomes, not just updates
Instead of listing tasks, highlight:
- Progress towards goals
- Risk or blockers
- Decisions needed

This helps your manager support you effectively—and trust your judgment.

3. Anticipate before escalating
Strong managing up includes proposing solutions, not just problems.
Try:
- Here’s the issue, two options I see, and my recommendation.”
This positions you as a thinking partner, not just an executor.

💡Pro Tip
Managing up is a leadership skill in disguise. The better you get at it, the more autonomy and influence you earn

Weekly Challenge
This week, improve one interaction with your manager by:
- Clarifying expectations
- Framing work in outcomes
- Offering a recommendation instead of a question

Small shifts build strong working relationships.