Can I really manage my boss?

Managing upwards is a critical skill in being an effective leader in the workplace. The whole idea of a boss is a somewhat old fashioned concept as it implies that somebody knows what you should be doing and is put in charge of making sure you do it. In the knowledge-era workplace, most bosses have no idea about what their employees actually do, so how can they ensure that it is done properly? Managers certainly cannot control outputs as well as they could when those outputs were tangible. Effective managers will empower their team members to make decisions, let them decide how to do their jobs and play a supportive role in getting the right outputs. This new style of management sometimes leads to the mistaken belief that the manager is no longer responsible for the outputs of the teams. They sit on the sides watching the action and hoping it all works out.

There are many reasons why it is important to manage your boss. One key reason is to proactively re-engage a boss that has become an observer. The reality is your boss’s boss is 100% clear who owns the outcome – it is your boss, not you. Considering it is not in your best interest that your boss fails, especially if that failure is caused by you, it is important to get your boss engaged in what you are doing and ensure they really understand what outputs to expect. Surprise is an ugly word for senior managers.

Managing your boss does not mean controlling your boss – in the same way that your boss does not control you. What managing upwards is about is proactively addressing areas that your boss is not addressing.

The question should not be, “Can I really manage my boss?”, but instead “Can I afford not to manage my boss?”