The Art of Managing Up

Presentation Transcript

State & Consumer Services Agency

Governor’s Office of the Insurance Advisor

Director Kathleen Webb

A play, a movie, and a revival offering a satirical perspective on moving up the business ladder.
J. Pierpont Finch, a young but bright window-cleaner buys a book - "How To Succeed In Business" and following its advice joins the multi-national but poorly-connected "World-Wide Wicket Company". Starting from the mail-room he rises to Vice-President in Charge Of Advertising using sneaky and dubious ways so that the person above him gets either fired or moved to another section of the company.
Can Finch rise to the top or will it all go down in flames...

Mr. Twimble: Last month I became a quarter-of-a-century man. J. Pierpont Finch: Oh, that's beautiful, a quarter-of-a-century. Mr. Twimble: Quarter-of-a-century. J. Pierpont Finch: How long have you been in the mail room? Mr. Twimble: Twenty-five years. It's not easy to get this medal. It takes a combination of skill, diplomacy, and bold caution.
While skill, diplomacy and bold caution are important qualities … we will discuss methods that can create a win-win for everyone, including the organization and your projects.

The ISO is required to oversee agency compliance with policies and procedures regarding the security of information assets.
Strengths

“the process of consciously working with your boss to obtain the best possible results for you, your boss and your organization. This is not political maneuvering or kissing up. Rather, it is a deliberate effort to bring understanding and cooperation to a relationship between individuals who often have different perspectives.”

Quote from Thomas Zuber and Erika James.

Learning to manage up can be the ultimate win-win scenario for your career and organization.
Benefits

Successful managers pay attention to managing in all directions and communicating with their peers.

13 Tips to Successfully Manage Up

Know the strengths and weaknesses of your management skills and take responsibility for its effect on others.

“Managing up sounds simple, but managers, and everyone else, need to learn this basic concept. If we want someone to understand what we have to say, we must learn to speak their language, rather than expect them to learn ours.” – Richard L. Knowdell, Building a Career Development Program: Nine Steps for Effective Implementation
Help me help you and the organization succeed!

Leading up involves the ability to influence people above you to help them strategically achieve better results.

Leading up may involve offering strategic insight and coaching to enhance an organizations delivery models and outcomes.
Awareness of your environment is critical to avoid pitfalls – leading up may not be an option.

Wayne Turk, The Art of Managing Up, Defense AT&L: March-April 2007
Leading Up: The Art of Managing Your Boss, Knowledge@Emory, July 4, 2001
Mark Chapman, How to Manage Up: The Art of Managing Your Boss, SearchWarp.com, October 2007