Managing Up? And Oxymoron

Have you ever been told, “you really need to manage up?”

I used to cringe when I heard that statement, as I wasn’t really even certain what it meant. I knew “managing up” was not part of my job description. I knew that I needed to do my tasks, those things for which I was accountable. Also, in the moments it was said to me it was usually when my boss had failed to train or manage me. Which, by the way, is the function of a managers.

Managers manage. Managees are managed.

I am not going to argue about or deny the value of managing up. Employing this skill can illustrate leadership and make you indispensable. I assert that it is not something I need to do in order get my job done. If I choose to do so, I have given you a gift. It indicates I want to be considered for advancement.

I think it has become a buzz word employed by executives to manipulate and embarrass employees for questioning or not tolerating mismanagement.

One aspect of this concept is being able to anticipate desires of the person who is managing you. Isn’t their job to ancipaite and manage your needs? If I was able to supervise the wants of my boss or of my boss’s boss then shouldn’t I have their job and their pay? What happened to communicating your requests? Do you look for clairvoyant on resumes?

In my experience, when one is told, “you need to manage up,” they have become a scapegoat for the organizations inability to employ the appropriate person—their manager. I have had brilliant bosses and bad bosses. The difference, early on in the relationship the good ones outlined their needs. I knew what to do to get my job done and please them. We had a give and take relationship and I would go to the ends of the earth to satisfy them. The awful ones never communicated and were erratic at best. I cannot fulfill on my accountabilities let alone anticipate their wishes.

Many times I have been left blindsided at an outburst when the expectations I failed to meet were not meant and I was told I needed to “manage up.” How about you manage me? If I do not know, or you think I might not know, tell me what to do. If we require more people than usual for an event let me know. Don’t get angry after the fact.

Also, if my energy is focused on “managing up” how can I take care of the job I have for which I have been hired? If my job is sales and I am trying to anticipate the needs of my sales manager when do I get to sell? If my job is marketing and I am trying to anticipate the needs of my marketing manager when do I have time to market?

I am not saying, by any means that “managing up” is wrong. Just consider, are you doing it by choice or by threat.