You're struggling to get your boss to notice your contributions. How can you manage up more effectively?

1 Know your boss's style

The first step to managing up is to understand your boss's personality, preferences, and expectations. What are their goals, challenges, and priorities? How do they like to receive information, feedback, and suggestions? How often do they want to communicate with you and in what format? By knowing your boss's style, you can tailor your approach and avoid potential conflicts or misunderstandings.

2 Align your contributions with their goals

The next step is to show your boss how your work supports their goals and the company's vision. Don't just focus on your tasks and responsibilities, but also on the outcomes and impact of your actions. How do you help your boss solve problems, save time, or increase revenue? How do you create value for the customers and the business? By aligning your contributions with their goals, you can demonstrate your relevance and importance.

6 Appreciate and support your boss

The sixth and final step is to appreciate and support your boss as a person and a leader. Don't take them for granted or ignore their needs and feelings, but express your gratitude and respect for their work and guidance. How do you thank them for their feedback, recognition, or opportunities? How do you help them with their tasks, projects, or challenges? How do you advocate for them and their vision? By appreciating and supporting your boss, you can show your boss that you are loyal and trustworthy.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?