Managing Up Taking Control

1. Managing UpTaking Control Prepared by Dawn M. Rose, JD, PHR Human Resource Manager University of Chicago Department of Surgery From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

2. Introduction • Managers are not perfect! • Unskilled managers cause sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, depression, headaches, ulcers, fights with coworkers, absenteeism, overworking, and/or substance abuse • There are two kinds of management in business: managing down & managing up From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

3. What is the difference? • Managing downtaking charge of your staff • Managing upmanaging the people in positions of authority over you, especially your boss The less adept your boss is at Managing Down, the more important Managing Up becomes. From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

4. Why Are There So Many Poor Managers? Promoted based on… • Technical expertise • Seniority • Political Reasons From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

5. To Manage Up Effectively: • You must accept that your boss has limitations as a manager • You must be willing to take responsibility for improving the relationship From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

6. Accepting That Your Boss Has Limitations • My boss should… • be more organized • know how to delegate • spell out what is expected of me • give me some time and attention • appreciate me more • give me positive feedback From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

7. Two Choices: Complain OR Acknowledge & Manage Up From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

8. The Five Pivotal Practices of Managing Up • Train your boss to meet with you regularly • Come to every meeting with a detailed agenda • Keep a pulse on your boss’s changing priorities • Anticipate problems and offer solutions • Always be prepared to give a status report on your projects From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

9. Pivotal Practice #1: Train your boss to meet with you regularly • A time convenient to her/his schedule • Short in duration • Not “on the fly” • At regular intervals • Brief, organized & on point • Be persistent From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

10. Pivotal Practice #2: Come to every meeting with a detailed agenda • Active, not passive, approach • Prioritize problems & questions • List everything you need to discuss • Bring any needed documentation • Take notes on your agenda & file it for future reference From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

11. Pivotal Practice #3: Keep a pulse on your boss’s changing priorities • What’s your priority today? • What do you need today? • What can I do for you? • What else needs to get done? • What problem do you need me to take care of? • How can I help you? From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

12. Pivotal Practice #4: Anticipate problems and offer solutions • Confirm appointments • Clarify logistics • Anticipate the reliability of equipment • Replenish supplies before they run out • Normalize predictable problems NOT SO GOOD ! GOOD From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

13. Pivotal Practice #5: Always be prepared to give status reports on your projects at any time • What you are currently working on • Where you are in terms of accomplishing certain tasks • How far you’ve progressed on any long-range projects From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

14. The High Five of Managing Up • Be on time or early for the start of your day • Be a gatekeeper and keep away unwanted time-eaters • Create systems so that others can find things when you’re not around • Keep confidential information where it belongs • Underpromise and overdeliver From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

15. High Five #1: Be on time or early for the start of your dayEnhance your reputation as a dependable member of any team • Time to prioritize & plan • :10 can make a big difference • Focus + Reliability + Time Management = capable of handling greater responsibility • Punctuality – professionalism, respect, reliability, and eagerness • Chronic lateness – the exact opposite • Time cushions From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

16. High Five #2: Be a gatekeeper & keep time-eaters away from your bossGain points for handling difficult people and difficult situations • Divert them to another appropriate department • Take the hit yourself & handle independently or relay the message • View your role as the “office diplomat” From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

17. High Five #3: Create systems so that your boss can find things if you’re not aroundBe seen as someone who’s organized and able to empower others • Prevents frustration • Avoids duplications of work • Saves the time of rifling through paper and/or computer files • Gives your boss the answer if they need to provide one while you are unavailable From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

18. High Five #4: Keep confidential information where it belongsBe known as trustworthy and discrete • What you see and hear in your boss’s office stays there • Build a reputation as someone capable of holding sensitive information • Earn the trust and confidence of your boss • Unless it is illegal, immoral, or unethical, be a vault! From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

19. High Five #5: Underpromise and overdeliverBe considered an outstanding addition to any team • Why? Most people do the opposite • Unexpected delays & obstacles inevitably interfere with goal accomplishment • Others may be depending on you • Rule of Thumb: Projected hours X 2 From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster

20. Summary • DO remember that managers are not perfect • DON’T just complain – manage up! • DO set meetings & agendas • DON’T lose track of your boss’s priorities • DO anticipate problems & offer solutions • DON’T forget the high five for excellence From the book "Working with You Is Killing Me" by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster