Manage Up!: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Manager

Manage Up!: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Manager by Jacqueline Ross is a comprehensive guide that provides practical strategies for successfully managing the relationship with your manager and maximising your professional growth. Drawing on her extensive experience in leadership development and coaching, Ross offers valuable insights, tips, and techniques for building a productive and collaborative partnership with your manager.

The book starts by exploring the importance of understanding your manager's needs, preferences, and working style. Ross encourages readers to take the initiative to learn about their manager's expectations, communication preferences, and professional goals. By gaining a deeper understanding of your manager's perspective, you can adapt your approach and effectively collaborate with them.

One of the key themes in the book is the power of proactive communication. Ross stresses the importance of regular and open communication with your manager. She provides guidance on how to effectively share updates, seek feedback, and ask for clarification. By proactively communicating, you can build trust, enhance alignment, and demonstrate your commitment to achieving shared goals.

"Manage Up!" delves into the art of influence and persuasion. Ross offers strategies for effectively influencing your manager's decisions and gaining their support for your ideas and initiatives. She highlights the importance of building credibility, providing well-reasoned arguments, and aligning your proposals with the organisation's goals. By mastering the skills of influence, you can become a trusted and influential partner to your manager.

The book explores the concept of managing expectations and setting boundaries. Ross provides insights into effectively negotiating workload, deadlines, and priorities with your manager. She encourages readers to set clear expectations, communicate their availability and capacity, and negotiate realistic deadlines. By managing expectations proactively, you can create a more balanced and manageable workload.

Furthermore, "Manage Up!" addresses the importance of personal growth and professional development. Ross explains the significance of taking ownership of your own career growth and seeking opportunities for learning and skill development. She provides guidance on how to have meaningful career conversations with your manager, express your aspirations, and seek their support in your professional development journey.

Throughout the book, Ross shares real-life examples and practical scenarios that illustrate the principles and strategies she advocates. These examples help readers understand how to apply the concepts in their own unique work situations.

In summary, "Manage Up!: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Manager" provides a valuable resource for individuals seeking to enhance their working relationship with their managers and maximise their professional growth. Jacqueline Ross's practical advice, coupled with real-life examples and actionable strategies, offers readers a roadmap for building productive relationships, communicating effectively, influencing decisions, and taking ownership of their own career growth. By implementing the principles outlined in the book, individuals can cultivate a positive and collaborative relationship with their managers, drive their professional success, and contribute effectively to the organisation.

The key takeaways from this book

1. Understand your manager: Gain a deep understanding of your manager's needs, preferences, and working style. Take the initiative to learn about their expectations, communication preferences, and professional goals. This knowledge allows you to adapt your approach and collaborate effectively with your manager.
2. Proactive communication is vital: Regular and open communication with your manager is crucial. Share updates, seek feedback, and ask for clarification proactively. By fostering clear and consistent communication, you build trust, enhance alignment, and demonstrate your commitment to achieving shared goals.
3. Master the art of influence: Develop strategies to influence your manager's decisions and gain their support for your ideas and initiatives. Build credibility, present well-reasoned arguments, and align your proposals with the organisation's goals. By becoming an effective influencer, you can become a trusted and influential partner to your manager.
4. Manage expectations and set boundaries: Negotiate workload, deadlines, and priorities effectively with your manager. Set clear expectations, communicate your availability and capacity, and negotiate realistic deadlines. By managing expectations proactively, you can create a more balanced and manageable workload.
5. Take ownership of your career growth: Be proactive in your own career development. Seek opportunities for learning and skill development. Have meaningful career conversations with your manager, express your aspirations, and seek their support in your professional growth. By taking ownership of your career, you can maximise your potential and contribute effectively to the organisation.