What will I learn about: the art of "managing up" to proactively improve the relationship with your manager, ultimately boosting your career prospects and daily workplace happiness?

Master the art of "managing up" to proactively improve the relationship with your manager, ultimately boosting your career prospects and daily workplace happiness.

What will I learn about: how to tailor your communication style to your boss's personality, whether they are an introverted "Innie" who prefers focused updates or an extroverted "Outie" who thrives on active listening?

Discover how to tailor your communication style to your boss's personality, whether they are an introverted "Innie" who prefers focused updates or an extroverted "Outie" who thrives on active listening.

What will I learn about: Learn to navigate a goal-oriented "Advancer" boss by always bringing actionable solutions and proposals to the table rather than dwelling on problems and complaints?

Learn to navigate a goal-oriented "Advancer" boss by always bringing actionable solutions and proposals to the table rather than dwelling on problems and complaints.

What will I learn about: the priorities of a "Harmonizer" manager by resolving interpersonal conflicts directly with colleagues instead of dragging your boss into workplace drama?

Understand the priorities of a "Harmonizer" manager by resolving interpersonal conflicts directly with colleagues instead of dragging your boss into workplace drama.

What will I learn about: how to handle a micromanaging boss by recognizing that their overbearing behavior stems from deep-seated insecurity, and learn to win their trust through consistent, reliable performance?

Find out how to handle a micromanaging boss by recognizing that their overbearing behavior stems from deep-seated insecurity, and learn to win their trust through consistent, reliable performance.

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Managing Up

How to Move up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss

Mary Abbajay

★ 4.0 / 5(228 ratings)

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Categories:

Career & Success

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡What if you could transform your most difficult professional relationship into your biggest opportunity for rapid career advancement?
💡What’s the secret to decoding your boss’s unique leadership style to ensure your ideas are always heard and valued?
💡Have you ever wondered why some people thrive under even the most “unmanageable” bosses while others feel stuck in their roles?

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Key Takeaways from Managing Up

✓Master the art of "managing up" to proactively improve the relationship with your manager, ultimately boosting your career prospects and daily workplace happiness.
✓Discover how to tailor your communication style to your boss's personality, whether they are an introverted "Innie" who prefers focused updates or an extroverted "Outie" who thrives on active listening.
✓Learn to navigate a goal-oriented "Advancer" boss by always bringing actionable solutions and proposals to the table rather than dwelling on problems and complaints.
✓Understand the priorities of a "Harmonizer" manager by resolving interpersonal conflicts directly with colleagues instead of dragging your boss into workplace drama.
✓Find out how to handle a micromanaging boss by recognizing that their overbearing behavior stems from deep-seated insecurity, and learn to win their trust through consistent, reliable performance.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Managing Up

Mind Map

Managing Up

Core Philosophy+

Communication Styles+

Workplace Personalities+

Difficult Boss Archetypes+

Knowing When to Quit+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10

What does the term 'managing up' refer to in the context of this book?

A. Promoting your subordinates to leadership roles.
B. Managing your relationship with the person above you.
C. Taking over the responsibilities of your manager.
D. Climbing the corporate ladder as quickly as possible.

Question 2 of 10

How should an extroverted employee (an 'Outie') adjust their behavior when working for an introverted boss (an 'Innie')?

A. Wait patiently for the boss to initiate meetings and conversations.
B. Share as much detailed information as possible during every interaction.
C. Schedule one-on-one time and keep interactions tightly focused on the task.
D. Encourage the boss to socialize more with the rest of the team.

Question 3 of 10

What is the best way to approach an 'Advancer' boss when you encounter a problem at work?

A. Present the problem along with several potential solutions for them to choose from.
B. Explain how the problem is negatively affecting the team's overall morale.
C. Ask the boss to mediate a conflict between you and the person causing the problem.
D. Avoid mentioning the problem entirely until it resolves itself.

Question 4 of 10

Why might a 'Harmonizer' boss react poorly if you bring an interpersonal conflict to them?

A. They prefer to focus strictly on achieving concrete business results.
B. They believe employees should be highly autonomous and figure things out alone.
C. They want to avoid interpersonal conflict and prioritize team cohesion.
D. They are primarily concerned with asserting their authority over the team.

Question 5 of 10

According to the book, what is often the root cause of a micromanager's controlling behavior?

A. A malicious desire to stifle their employees' professional growth.
B. Deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and a fear of failure.
C. A lack of understanding of the company's broader strategic goals.
D. An extroverted personality that requires constant communication.

Question 6 of 10

Which strategy is recommended for dealing with a micromanager boss?

A. Withhold minor details so they are forced to focus on the big picture.
B. Push back aggressively whenever they check in on your progress.
C. Provide them with an overwhelming amount of communication and detailed daily updates.
D. Ignore their requests and prove your competence by delivering the final product early.

Question 7 of 10

How should you respond to an absentee boss who is rarely around to provide guidance?

A. Reduce your effort since no one is actively monitoring your daily performance.
B. View their absence as an opportunity to step up and take on leadership responsibilities.
C. Complain to upper management about their lack of engagement.
D. Refuse to make any decisions until the boss is available to approve them.

Question 8 of 10

Why does the author suggest you might want to stick with a narcissistic boss instead of immediately quitting?

A. They are usually very empathetic once you get to know them personally.
B. They often climb the corporate ladder quickly and can provide valuable business connections.
C. They are highly likely to step down and recommend you for their position.
D. They prefer to stay out of your way, giving you complete autonomy over your work.

Question 9 of 10

What is a recommended approach for working under an incompetent boss?

A. Publicly highlight their mistakes so management replaces them faster.
B. Take over all of their tasks without asking for permission.
C. Find out what they are good at, such as networking or self-promotion, and learn from it.
D. Bypass them entirely and only communicate with their superiors.

Question 10 of 10

According to the book, which of the following is a clear warning sign that it might be time to quit your job?

A. You are asked to provide daily memos detailing your time management.
B. You spend most of your mental energy on office politics and surviving your boss rather than doing actual work.
C. Your boss occasionally gives you too much information during meetings.
D. You have to resolve a conflict with a coworker without your boss's mediation.

Managing Up — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Introverted and extroverted bosses need different communication approaches.
32 — Discover whether your boss is a Harmonizer or an Advancer.
43 — Improve relationships with micromanaging bosses by earning their trust.
54 — An absentee boss brings both risks and opportunities for your career.
65 — Handle a narcissistic boss with extreme care.
76 — Show empathy for your incompetent boss, and don’t dismiss her too quickly.
87 — Sometimes the only way to handle a terrible boss is to leave.
98 — Final summary

Managing Up Summary & Overview

Managing Up (2018) explores ways to improve your relationship with your boss. Featuring effective strategies for coping with any type of manager, it explains how you can deal with difficult leaders and how to turn a bad boss into a great opportunity for professional growth.

Who Should Listen to Managing Up?

Employees working for a horrible boss
Corporate go-getters looking for fresh insights
First-time managers seeking a different perspective

About the Author: Mary Abbajay

Mary Abbajay is an author, speaker and management consultant. As the president of the leadership development consultancy Cornerstone Group, Abbajay helps organizations foster the skills, strategies and workplace culture required for 21st Century success.