Managing up and managing down

Managing up and managing down is studied as part of management studies as how a middle manager should effectively deal with his or her manager and with his or her subordinates. Additionally, managing up on its own may be a useful skill for a subordinate who in turn does not manage anyone. It is generally considered to be distinct from "sucking up" or "kissing up" to the manager and "kicking down" to subordinates as it involves benign and straightforward influencing rather than underhand manipulation.[1][2][3][4]

Managing up

Johnson claims that you can manage up without sucking up by:[2]

According to Badowski, good managing up requires going above and beyond the tasks assigned to you so that you can enhance your manager's work. Doing what you can to make your manager's job easier will not only help them do their job, but you will be considered a valuable asset to your manager and to your organization. You want to be described as indispensable.[5][6]

Influencing up

Bradford introduces the idea of influencing up where it may be possible for a subordinate without authority to influence those with authority.[7]

Managing down

It is claimed that good managing down requires the following attributes:[8]

  • Organization skills
  • Communication skills
  • Motivation
  • Leadership skills
  • Utilizing the right management style
  • Being authentic
  • Safe environments
  • Setting clear expectations
  • Consistent feedback
  • Accepting imperfection

References

  1. Turk W (2007) Defense AT&L: March–April The Art of Managing Up
  2. 1 2 Johnson W (15 Dec 2014) Managing Up Without Sucking Up Harvard Business Review
  3. Price S Ivy Exec Managing Up Without Kissing Up
  4. The Careers Group (2010) Your Academic Career: Managing Professional Relationships University of London
  5. Badowski R (2004) Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship With Those Above You
  6. Garone E (30 Oct 2008) Wall Street Journal What It Means to 'Manage Up'
  7. Bradford DL (2005) Influence Without Authority
  8. Ward ME, Zambito J (Nov 2013) The Bulletin Vol 81 Issue 6 Managing in All Directions: Up, Down, and Sideways

Further reading

Books

Journal articles

External links

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