The Art of Managing Up: How to Get Your Manager to Work for You

Most career advice focuses on impressing your manager—hitting deadlines, going the extra mile, and being an all-around star employee. But if you really want to thrive, it’s not just about working hard; it’s about working smart by managing up. When done well, managing up helps you get the support, resources, and recognition you need while also making your manager’s life easier.

What Does Managing Up Actually Mean?

Managing up isn’t about flattery or trying to be your manager’s favorite. It’s about understanding how they work, what they prioritize, and positioning yourself as someone who makes their job smoother. When you do this well, they’re more likely to support you, advocate for you, and trust you with bigger opportunities.

Think of it like this: If your manager is constantly putting out fires and struggling to keep up, they’re less likely to have time to focus on your growth. But if you can make their life a little easier—by anticipating their needs, communicating effectively, and delivering work in a way that aligns with their priorities—you make yourself indispensable.

How to Manage Up Without Losing Yourself in the Process

1. Understand What Matters to Them

Your manager has their own goals, pressures, and responsibilities. What are they measured on? What keeps them up at night? Once you know what really matters to them, you can align your work with their priorities. This doesn’t mean abandoning your own goals, but it does mean framing your work in a way that supports theirs.

2. Adapt to Their Communication Style

Some managers love details; others just want the high-level summary. Some prefer emails, while others like quick Slack messages or face-to-face updates. Pay attention to how your manager communicates and match their style. If they hate long emails, don’t send them a novel every time you need an answer. If they love data, back up your points with numbers.

3. Be Proactive & Manage Expectations

The best employees don’t just wait for instructions—they anticipate challenges and offer solutions. If you see something that could become an issue down the line, flag it early and come prepared with a potential fix. Similarly, if you can’t meet a deadline or need more resources, communicate it before things become a crisis. Managers hate surprises (the bad kind, at least), so keeping them informed makes you look reliable and in control.

4. Team Up with Your Manager

Your manager isn’t just your boss; they’re your closest business partner. The most successful professionals see themselves as being aligned with their manager rather than separate from them. If you work as a team—helping them tackle their challenges, supporting them when needed, and aligning yourself with their goals—you’ll naturally find yourself in a stronger position. People who get promoted quickly aren’t just great at their job; they’re great at working with leadership.

5. Let Them Shine

No one wants to work for a manager who takes credit for their work, but the reality is, when your manager looks good, it reflects well on you too. If they have a big presentation coming up and you can contribute insights that make them stand out, do it. If they need help pulling something together, offering support can build goodwill. It’s not about being a doormat—it’s about recognizing that when they succeed, so do you.

What Managing Up is NOT

Managing up doesn’t mean agreeing with everything your manager says or covering for their mistakes. It also doesn’t mean taking on extra work just to please them. Instead, it’s about building a relationship where both of you benefit—you get the support and recognition you need, and they get an employee they can rely on.

The Real Payoff

When you manage up effectively, work feels less frustrating. You’re not stuck in a cycle of unclear expectations, last-minute chaos, or feeling like your hard work goes unnoticed. Instead, you have a manager who trusts you, values your contributions, and—most importantly—helps you grow.

So before you get frustrated with your manager, ask yourself: Have you actually made it easy for them to work with you? If not, managing up might be the missing piece to getting what you want at work.