Managing Up

Forging a Successful Relationship with Your Supervisor

Formats:  Self Paced, Guided Learning, Live

How You Will Benefit

The reality of today’s workplace is that individual success depends not just on how well you do your job, but on how well your supervisor does theirs.

A supervisor’s role is not one of command and control, but of collaboration—just as much as your efforts influence theirs, theirs influence yours. When they’re unable to meet deadlines, accomplish goals, and fulfill expectations, those unmet obligations inevitably become yours, and the communication between you can suffer greatly. The principles of managing up are designed to make your supervisor’s life easier. However, you’ll find that becoming in tune with their needs and supporting their daily obligations in turn, benefits you. Your work life will run smoother, you’ll encounter less conflict, and you’ll make a positive impression on your supervisor, ultimately forging a successful relationship.

Course Objectives

Successful completion of this course will increase your ability to:

• Identify and support your supervisor’s strengths, weaknesses, and working style.
• Proactively seek consistent communication and monitor data.
• Determine your supervisor’s priorities, goals, and pressures.
• Establish expectations and a clear system of organization.
• Help to eliminate preventable problems and use effective problem solving skills to find resolutions.
• Exhibit positive behaviors that make you an invaluable employee.

Key Topics Covered

This course explores the following subjects in depth:

• Using common traits to develop a unique picture of your supervisor’s work style and tailoring your style to better support their needs
• How to foster trust with your supervisor and restore it when broken
• Developing an agenda that addresses current and future issues and how to handle barriers to consistent, effective communication
• How to anticipate supervisor needs and read their non-verbal cues
• Identifying your supervisor’s goals and stressors
• How to use observation to gain additional insight into your supervisor’s priorities
• Questions to consider to ensure expectations regarding the successful accomplishment of priorities are aligned
• Strategies for dealing with a non-committal, non-detail-oriented, and/or non-organized supervisor
• Implementing simple problem prevention and identifying the source of most project management problems
• Methods for maintaining positivity, handling frustrating situations, and growing your career