Managing Up: Why Your Hard Work Won’t Get You Ahead (And What Will)

Are you working harder than ever but still getting passed over for promotions? Your problem isn't effort—it's visibility and strategy.

In this episode, Bernadette Boas reveals why 78% of professionals believe their manager has no influence on their career advancement—and how understanding managing up creates a massive competitive advantage for those who get it right.

Most professionals think managing up means being a "yes person" or playing politics. They're wrong. Managing up is strategic leadership that makes you indispensable while advancing your career and supporting your team.

What You'll Learn: 8 actionable strategies to effectively manage up starting this week • How to bring solutions instead of complaints (and why this matters) • The visibility framework that gets you noticed for the right reasons • Why leaders actually want you to challenge them (and how to do it respectfully) • Communication mistakes that make your boss tune you out • The self-advocacy approach that doesn't feel like bragging • How to anticipate needs before they're voiced • Why emotional intelligence is your career currency • The alignment conversation that changes everything

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction: What is managing up really about?

[03:00] The foundational principle: Leave people and places better than you found them

[09:00] What managing up is (and what it isn't)

[14:00] Myth #1: Hard work and long hours will get you ahead

[16:00] Myth #2: Managing up means being a yes person

[18:00] Myth #3: You can't push back or create healthy tension

[20:00] Mistake #1: Bringing complaints without solutions

[22:00] Mistake #2: Overloading your boss with problems you could solve

[23:00] Mistake #3: Failing to adapt to your boss's communication style

[26:00] Mistake #4: Assuming your boss understands your workload and impact

[28:00] Mistake #5: Inconsistent follow-through destroys trust

[30:00] Mistake #6: Not seeking visibility for your contributions

[32:00 - 46:00] 8 Strategies 

[48:00] Summary: Managing up is about managing your impact

[50:00] Your challenge: Pick one strategy for the next 7 days

[52:00] Final thoughts and next episode preview

Connect with Bernadette Boas

Website: https://balloffirecoaching.com

Book a Discovery Call: coachmebernadette.com/discovery-call 

LinkedIn: @BernadetteBoas 

Podcast Website: balloffirecoaching.com/podcast

Next Episode

Presenteeism: The Silent Culture Killer with Rebecca Reed Discover how showing up without being present is destroying your culture—and what to do about it.

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