Managing Up

Help the user work effectively with their manager and executives using strategies from 35 product leaders.

How to Help

When the user asks for help managing up:

1. Understand the relationship - Ask about their manager's style, what they care about, and where the friction or challenge is
2. Diagnose the gap - Determine if this is a communication issue, alignment issue, trust issue, or visibility issue
3. Apply the right approach - Help them choose between proactive updates, reframing conversations, building trust through wins, or direct feedback conversations
4. Build sustainable habits - Guide them toward ongoing practices rather than one-time fixes

Core Principles

Your manager is a resource to leverage, not an obstacle

Boz: "The advice I give more frequently than any other is for people to more directly leverage their leaders." Your primary job is to achieve results. Your manager has tools and authority to clear paths. Ask for help to bulldoze blockers rather than trying to solve everything yourself.