## Q: I’m finding it tough to work with my manager. Do you have any advice for “managing up”?
Managing up is one of the most essential skills at every level. Even as a CEO. It enables you to be less stressed, do your best work, and get the recognition that you deserve. Below are five tactics I’ve found to be most effective in managing up:
#### 1. 📢 Over-communicate
Regularly share what you’re doing, what you plan to do, and what you’ve done with your manager. It’s nearly impossible to over-communicate. I suggest sending a simple weekly “State of The Me” email to your boss with (1) your current priorities, (2) things on your mind, and (3) blockers you need help with. Try it for two weeks — it’ll work wonders. Here’s a template you can use:
You can also highlight material changes to your priorities from the prior week to make it even easier for your manager (h/t to Nishi Patel for the idea).
#### 2. 🤐 Set realistic expectations
When taking on work, set realistic expectations around time, resources needed, and quality. It may feel good to say yes in the moment, but you’ll pay for it later. Remember, your performance will be judged not just based on the results, but also on how the results compared to your manager’s expectations. Be ambitious, but be realistic.
#### 3. 🔭 Be proactive
Don’t wait for your manager to come to you. Anticipate looming asks, deliverables, and problems. Is yearly planning around the corner? Get started on your strategy now. Is a board meeting approaching? Start gathering data that your manager will ask for. See a potential problem (or opportunity) arising? Develop a plan. You don’t always need to get this right, but spending a bit of time looking around corners is often a high ROI investment.
#### 4. ✍️ Prioritize + communicate
When asked to take on new work, particularly last-minute, prioritize it amongst your existing priorities and most importantly share your updated priorities with your manager. Don’t assume your manager knows what else you’ve got on your plate, or how you’re prioritizing your work. What project will suffer if you take on this new work? Who will be upset? What would you recommend? With this updated set of priorities, ask your manager if they agree with how you’re re-prioritizing. If they don’t, partner with them to update your priorities. Otherwise, you’re good to go.
#### 5. 🔥 Do great work
The better you do —> the more your manager will trust you —> the more freedom and influence you will have. If you feel micro-managed, and others around you don’t, it’s likely because you aren’t performing well. Do great work, and life will get better.
Have any other advice? Leave a comment!
🔥 Job opportunities
1. Product: Cerebral, ClassDojo, KUDO, Hipcamp, [Product Hunt](https://www.notion.so/Head-of-Product-Product-Hunt-9d11d30d491a475c970accdb94eadc71) 2. Growth: Cerebral, [Coda](https://boards.greenhouse.io/coda/jobs/4794809002), Instrumentl, Levels, Reclaim, Shef, Wren 3. Design: Ashby, Cascade, Pachama, Office Hours, Reclaim, Runway, Stytch, Watershed 4. Engineering manager: Cerebral 5. Frontend engineer: Levels, Practice 6. Backend engineer: Coda, Sourcetable, Transform 7. Fullstack engineer: Cascade, Centered, Coda, Icebreaker, Iggy, Primer, Runway, Snackpass 8. iOS engineer: Pairplay, Primer, Vori
🧠 Inspiration for the week ahead
1. VOTE (if you’re in the US): Polling place locator
2. Watch: Line Rider - Waltz No. 2 (via The Viewer)
[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UI01jKiVRY)
3. Read: Falling in love with problems by Julien Berthomier
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Sincerely,
Lenny 👋