Kent, Dave, Joe, Nicole, and Jeff. These were some of my direct bosses throughout my career.

They were my sounding boards, my advocates, my cheerleaders—and in many cases,

eventually became my friends. The relationships I built with them shaped not only my

career but also how I show up as a leader today.

The term ‘managing up’ has always felt a little inauthentic to me. It can sound transactional,

even manipulative. But the truth is, managing up is really about building strong, respectful,

and mutually beneficial relationships with the people you report to. Maybe we should call it

relationshiping up instead.

Here’s why I’ve always seen this skill as essential—especially for managers:

Job Satisfaction Starts at the Top

There’s a direct link between how supported you feel by your boss and how happy you are

at work. Did I feel valued? Did I feel seen? Did I believe I was doing a good job? These

questions were often answered through the feedback and recognition I received from my

leader. And when that relationship was strong, my engagement and satisfaction soared.

Your Boss Impacts Your Confidence and Well-Being

Let’s face it—most of us spend more waking hours at work than we do with our families.

When your relationship with your manager is strained or unclear, it can take a toll on your

self-esteem and mental health. On the flip side, a supportive manager can lift you up, build

your confidence, and make even the hard days feel manageable.

When You Make Them Look Good, Everyone Wins

This might sound overly strategic, but it’s the truth: when your boss trusts you, sees the

quality of your work, and knows you’re aligned with their goals, you’re more likely to get

what your team needs. Whether it’s headcount, budget, or buy-in for a new idea—your

ability to advocate upward directly affects your team’s success. In my mind, that’s part of

the job of being a great manager: securing resources, removing barriers, and creating the

conditions for your team to thrive.

They Hold the Keys to Your Growth

Early in my career, I didn’t fully understand the role my bosses would play in shaping my

trajectory. But they were the ones who nominated me for promotions, advocated for salary

increases, and referred me for new opportunities when the time came. Investing in those

relationships paid off in ways I couldn’t always see in the moment.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work for great leaders. They gave me a model—along with

formal management training—on what it looks like to lead well. That’s exactly what we aim

to pass on in our Manager Essentials program.

Learn the Skills You Need to Lead (Up and Down)

Our Manager Essentials program teaches current and aspiring leaders the core skills to be

effective, confident, and resilient. Yes, we cover performance management, feedback, and

delegation—but we also teach the human side of leadership, like building trust, navigating

conflict, and yes, managing up.

If you’re a manager looking to upskill, refresh your toolkit, or lead your team with greater

clarity and impact, join us this fall. Registration is now open for our next cohort.

Let’s redefine what great leadership looks like—together.