Managing Up
Working Effectively with Leadership
(most importantly, your boss!)
John Joachim, Manager of Material Services
Cathy Hufford, Corporate Mailing Specialist
Managing Up
 QUESTION:
What is the Number
One reason people leave their job
for a new one?
 ANSWER:
The BOSS!
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Managing Up
 How many of you experience this?
 Brown-nosing
 Game playing
 Office politics
 Manipulation
 Apple-polishing
Managing up can help you address these
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Managing Up
 What Managing Up is not
 Brown-nosing
 Game playing
 Office politics
 Manipulation
 Apple-polishing
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Managing Up
 OK, so what is it??
 Taking responsibility for the relationship you
have with your boss
 Accepting that your boss has limitations
 Interacting with your boss’ management style
instead of reacting to it
 Caring for your boss so you boss cares for you
 Creating a win-win for you, your boss and the
company
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Managing Up
 So how do you do it?
 Steps to Managing your Boss
 Know what matters to your boss
 Talk like a boss
 Be curious
 Seek new responsibilities
 Train your boss to meet with you regularly
 Come to meetings with agendas
 Always be ready to give status reports
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Managing Up
 Communicate
 Reader?
 Listener?
 Highly Involved?
 Delegator?
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Managing Up
 Leadership Behavior Styles:
Supportive and Directive
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Managing Up
S4 - Delegating
Analyzers: Low Task/ Low Relationship
Descriptors: precise, systematic, well organized,
self-controlled, cautious, more formal,
resistant to compromise
Strengths: logical, thorough, serious, systematic,
critical, precise, prudent
Weaknesses: inflexible, exacting
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Managing Up
S3 - Participating
Directors: Low Task/ High Relationship
Descriptors: task-oriented, to-the-point,
competitive, independent, confident, forceful,
risk-takers, impatient, in charge
Strengths: independent, candid, decisive,
pragmatic, determined, efficient, objective
Weaknesses: dominating, insensitive
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Managing Up
S2 - Selling
Socializers: High Task/ High Relationship
Descriptors: Big picture, creative, charming,
persuasive, decide quickly, outgoing, future
oriented, optimistic, playful
Strengths: imaginative, friendly, enthusiastic,
outgoing, excitable, persuasive, spontaneous
Weaknesses: undisciplined, unrealistic
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Managing Up
S1 - Telling
Relaters: High Task/ Low Relationship
Descriptors: Sympathetic to others’ needs,
trusting, team player, seeks stability, slow to
change, conflict avoidant
Strengths: cooperative, loyal, supportive,
diplomatic, patient, easy going, respectful
Weaknesses: permissive, conforming
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Managing Up
 Solutions, not problems
 Don’t assume
 Need to know and Does know.
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Managing Up
 No surprises
 Dependability
 Honesty
 Cooperation
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Managing Up
 Understand your boss’ perspective
and agenda
 Goals
 Concerns
 Work Style
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Managing Up
 Understand his preferences
 Clues about behavior
 Opportunities to question boss
 Seek out information
 Question others to test assumptions
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Managing Up
 Know his strengths, weaknesses,
and “hot buttons”
 Your own strengths
 Your own weaknesses
 Your own “hot buttons”
Don’t try to change his personality – or
yours!
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Managing Up
 Be loyal, committed, and trustworthy
 Promises you can keep
 Shade the truth
 Play down difficulties
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Managing Up
 Don’t go over the boss’ head
 Resent authority
 Obstacle or hindrance
Counterdependent Behavior
Overdependent Behavior
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Managing Up
 Communicate (Again!)
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Managing Up
Questions?
Thank you!
John Joachim jjoachim@hazelden.org
Cathy Hufford chufford@hazelden.org
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