Two critical skills which the highest performing managers have in spades are the ability to influence and persuade. The most obvious targets for your powers of persuasion are your team, and sometimes your peers in different departments; but just as you need to manage down or sideways , it’s also critical you know how to manage upwards.
Do it well, and you’ll shine. Do it badly and you could muddy your reputation and find yourself being passed over for advancement.
To help you make the right impression, here are four simple rules to remember, which will move you in the right direction.
1. Find out what the expectations are – and exceed them. Sounds obvious and simple – yet in my experience it’s neither! Try to answer the following questions:
Do you actually know what your manager’s top priorities are?
How clear are you about the order of priority your manager has for each area of your performance? How clear do you think your manager is about his/her expectations of you?
Sometimes expectations are written – but more often than not, they are unwritten expectations, which your boss may never have really clearly articulated to themselves, let alone you!
Put it this way - if you don’t know for sure what will score you top points with this individual, you may find yourself chasing down the wrong rabbit hole.
And this is NOT about currying favour, or ingratiating yourself. This is about having a clear understanding on both sides about what is important, so you both know and agree where you should focus most of your time and attention. It actually makes your job easier.
So – if you don’t know the answers to the questions above – make a date in your diary to discuss this with your boss! (And before you actually have that meeting, make sure you read technique 4!)
To Be Continued .....
