Managing Up: Essential Skills for Career Success

Master the Art of Managing Up: Build Better Relationships with Your Boss and Accelerate Your Career Growth

About the Book

Managing Up from the trusted 20 Minute Manager series delivers actionable strategies to help you build a productive, respectful relationship with your boss. Whether you’re dealing with a hands-off manager, a micromanager, or someone whose style clashes with yours, this book gives you the tools to adapt, communicate clearly, and position yourself for success. Learn how to understand your manager’s priorities, anticipate their needs, and become an indispensable part of the team—all while advancing your own career goals.

From the Back Cover

Your relationship with your boss can make or break your career. Learn how to manage up effectively and create a partnership built on trust, communication, and mutual respect.

About the Author

Harvard Business Review (HBR) is one of the most trusted names in business publishing, known for evidence-based insights and practical advice from leading management experts. The 20 Minute Manager series distills essential workplace skills into concise, actionable guides designed for busy professionals who want real results fast. With decades of research and contributions from top business minds, HBR delivers content you can trust and apply immediately.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is perfect for professionals at any stage of their career who want to improve their working relationship with their manager. Whether you’re a new employee learning to navigate office dynamics, a mid-level professional aiming for promotion, or someone struggling with a challenging boss, Managing Up offers practical solutions. It’s especially valuable for ambitious individuals who understand that career success isn’t just about doing great work—it’s also about building strong partnerships with the people who influence your growth.

What You’ll Learn from This Book

Discover how to decode your manager’s communication style, align your work with their priorities, and present your ideas in ways that get heard. You’ll learn when to push back respectfully, how to handle difficult conversations, and strategies for making your boss look good while advancing your own career. This book empowers you to take ownership of the relationship and create outcomes that benefit everyone involved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What does “managing up” mean and why is it important?
Managing up means proactively working with your boss to build a productive relationship. It’s important because your manager controls access to opportunities, resources, and career advancement. When you manage up effectively, you make both your lives easier.

Q: How long does it take to read Managing Up by HBR?
True to the 20 Minute Manager promise, you can read the core concepts in about 20 minutes. However, most professionals spend an hour or two to fully absorb the strategies and examples provided.

Q: Will this book help if I have a difficult boss?
Absolutely. The book includes specific strategies for working with challenging managers, including micromanagers, hands-off bosses, and those with communication styles different from yours. You’ll learn how to adapt and create a better working dynamic.

Q: Is Managing Up suitable for entry-level employees or just experienced professionals?
This book works for professionals at all levels. Entry-level employees will learn foundational skills for workplace relationships, while experienced professionals can refine their approach and handle more complex situations.

Q: What makes the HBR 20 Minute Manager series different from other business books?
The series focuses on practical, research-backed advice in a concise format. No fluff, no lengthy case studies—just actionable strategies you can implement immediately to see real results in your workplace relationships and career growth.