Managing Up

Question 1

What are the goals of managing up?

Answer 1

• Take responsibility for problems with your manager; find mutually acceptable solutions, even when difficult
• Understand the priorities of your manager and establish or negotiate a shared vision for your job
• Effectively communicate ideas or critical work concerns up the hierarchy; learn to influence up in a proactive manner

Question 2

What do Employees Seek from Managers?

Answer 2

• Task Related: Goals to be achieved, how to accomplish them, Measurements of Progress (feedback/evaluation)
• Personal: Recognition & Rewards, Career Coaching & Sponsorship, Exposure, Visibility, Opportunities to Learn

Question 3

What do Managers Seek from Employees?

Answer 3

• Task Related: Effort, Expertise, Achievement of Objectives
• Personal: Support for their own goals, Loyalty, Psychological Support, Reputation

Question 4

Different Styles of Management

Answer 4

• Information: Listener vs. Reader
  o Dialogue vs Reports
  o Intuitive vs Analytical
• Conflict: Spontaneous vs Private
  o Public vs One-on-one resolution of issues
• Leadership: Delegator vs High Involvement
  o Focus on end-of-the-quarter outcomes vs briefing on day-to-day activities

Question 5

Counterproductive Tendencies

Answer 5

• Dependency: Look for psychological support from Managers, Seek task structure and clarity from managers.
• Counter-Dependency: Avoidance of authority figures, Hostility to direction and structure

Question 6

Bias to Beware Of

Answer 6

• Fundamental Attribution Error: Assume behaviors are due solely to a person’s ability & motivation.
• False Consensus Effect: Assume that most others will view the situation & draw the same conclusions we do.
• Halo/Horn Effect: Let one exemplary or negative area influence all ratings.

Question 7

PUSH Style

Answer 7

PUSH Style:
* Persuading
o Suggesting new plans
o Providing reasoned arguments in support of those plans
* Asserting
o Stating your expectations from the partner
o Using incentives and pressures
o Expressing positive and negative evaluations of the person

Balance these to have productive conversations

Question 8

PULL Style

Answer 8

PULL Style:
* Bridging
o Listening to the partner
o Seeking input from the partner
o Disclosing your situation to the partner
* Highlighting common ground with the partner

• Assume people are coming from a good place.

Question 9

PULL vs PUSH Style

Answer 9

Balance these to have productive conversations
* Assume people are coming from a good and positive place.
* There is always something you can learn.
* Meet people halfway.

Question 10

Managing Power

Power allows leaders to get commitment, compliance, or resistance.

Answer 10

• Manage Loss & Disappointment, Blaming can be counter-productive
• Distinction between the decision, how the decision was made, and the consequences.
  2 of our key sources of power as leaders are often questioned: Legitimacy & Expertise
• Women in male dominated professions
• Minorities in underrepresented professions
• Expatriate assignments
• Generalists in technical settings
• Younger manager in an older workgroup