Managing Up

Navigate power dynamics, build effective relationships with higher-ups, and earn more authority, freedom and confidence at work. 'Outstanding. A better way to get ahead at work' Greg McKeown 'Turn potential conflicts into opportunities for growth' Daniel H. Pink ***A 'Next Big Idea' Best Leadership Book of 2025*** Do you feel vulnerable to the whims of your boss, peers or internal politics? Do you push through each day with an undercurrent of anxiety? Are you micromanaged, interrupted in meetings, saddled with busy work or overlooked for career opportunities? There's a way to teach those above you to value your ideas and treat you with respect - without ever changing your job title. Human behaviour professor and award-winning career coach Melody Wilding has helped thousands of clients advocate for their needs at work while navigating office politics. In this clear, tactical guide, time-tested strategies, detailed scripts and transformative insights will help you: Get in your boss's head to understand their priorities Earn more respect from your manager Say no and push back with tact No matter your level, reclaim control of your career by building the emotional intelligence, relational capital and negotiation savvy to succeed in a turbulent working world.

Navigate power dynamics, build effective relationships with higher-ups, and earn more authority, freedom and confidence at work. 'Outstanding. A better way to get ahead at work' Greg McKeown 'Turn potential conflicts into opportunities for growth' Daniel H. Pink ***A 'Next Big Idea' Best Leadership Book of 2025*** Do you feel vulnerable to the whims of your boss, peers or internal politics? Do you push through each day with an undercurrent of anxiety? Are you micromanaged, interrupted in meetings, saddled with busy work or overlooked for career opportunities? There's a way to teach those above you to value your ideas and treat you with respect - without ever changing your job title. Human behaviour professor and award-winning career coach Melody Wilding has helped thousands of clients advocate for their needs at work while navigating office politics. In this clear, tactical guide, time-tested strategies, detailed scripts and transformative insights will help you: Get in your boss's head to understand their priorities Earn more respect from your manager Say no and push back with tact No matter your level, reclaim control of your career by building the emotional intelligence, relational capital and negotiation savvy to succeed in a turbulent working world.

Build vital connections to accelerate your career success Managing Up is your guide to the most valuable 'soft skill' your career has ever seen. It's not about sucking up or brown-nosing; it's about figuring out who you are, who your boss is, and finding where you meet. It's about building real relationships with people who have influence over your career. Managing up is good for you, good for your boss, and good for the organization as a whole. This book gives you strategies for developing these all-important connections and building more than rapport; you become able to quickly assess situations, and determine which actions will move you forward; you become your own talent manager, and your boss's top choice for that new opportunity. As a skill, managing up can do more for your career than simply 'networking' ever could—and this book shows you how. Real-world strategies give you a set of actionable steps, supplemented by expert advice from a top leadership consultant that helps you get on track to advancement. It's never too early or too late to start adjusting your alignment, and this book provides the help you need to start accelerating your trajectory. Develop robust relationships with influential people Enhance your self-awareness and become more adaptable Gain new opportunities and accelerate your career Stop 'schmoozing' and develop true, lasting connections Managing up helps you build the sort of relationships that foster more communication, collaboration, cooperation, and understanding between people at different levels of power, with a variety of perspectives and skills. This type of bridge-building builds your reputation for effectiveness and fit, so you can start skipping rungs on the ladder as you build a strong, successful career. Managing Up is your personal manual for building this vital skill so you can begin building your best future.

Build vital connections to accelerate your career success Managing Up is your guide to the most valuable 'soft skill' your career has ever seen. It's not about sucking up or brown-nosing; it's about figuring out who you are, who your boss is, and finding where you meet. It's about building real relationships with people who have influence over your career. Managing up is good for you, good for your boss, and good for the organization as a whole. This book gives you strategies for developing these all-important connections and building more than rapport; you become able to quickly assess situations, and determine which actions will move you forward; you become your own talent manager, and your boss's top choice for that new opportunity. As a skill, managing up can do more for your career than simply 'networking' ever could—and this book shows you how. Real-world strategies give you a set of actionable steps, supplemented by expert advice from a top leadership consultant that helps you get on track to advancement. It's never too early or too late to start adjusting your alignment, and this book provides the help you need to start accelerating your trajectory. Develop robust relationships with influential people Enhance your self-awareness and become more adaptable Gain new opportunities and accelerate your career Stop 'schmoozing' and develop true, lasting connections Managing up helps you build the sort of relationships that foster more communication, collaboration, cooperation, and understanding between people at different levels of power, with a variety of perspectives and skills. This type of bridge-building builds your reputation for effectiveness and fit, so you can start skipping rungs on the ladder as you build a strong, successful career. Managing Up is your personal manual for building this vital skill so you can begin building your best future.