Managing up isn’t about flattery, agreeing with every decision, or sacrificing your own perspective to please leadership. At least, it shouldn’t be.
In Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, author Melody Wilding defines the concept as “strategically navigating relationships with those who have more positional power than you, namely your boss.” She emphasizes that managing up is a vital skill for navigating the power dynamics, conversations, and unspoken expectations that shape the workplace.
Drawing on her experience as a therapist, human behavior professor, and executive coach, Wilding has guided thousands of professionals — including employees at Google, Amazon, and other Fortune 500 companies. Her book is designed for anyone seeking greater confidence, control, and compensation at work, from individual contributors to senior leaders.
Rather than encouraging people to “kiss up” to their boss, Wilding focuses on teaching strategies that help professionals ensure their ideas are valued and their contributions respected. She offers ten key conversations to have with managers — covering topics such as alignment, communication styles, career advancement, and compensation — along with practical frameworks and scripts for success.
“Once you know what makes your boss tick,” she writes, “you’ll be able to work with them so smoothly it’ll feel like cheating.”