Managing Up: Building Trust & Influence with Your Boss for Career Acceleration

Did you miss our latest C-Suite Coach Chat with the New York Urban League? We’ve put together key takeaways from our insightful discussion, "Mastering the Art of Managing Up", featuring Marques Zak, former Head of Multicultural Marketing at American Express and Elonda Johnson, Executive Coach at C-Suite Coach.

Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

Be Proactive & Anticipate Needs: Managing up starts with understanding your manager’s expectations before they even ask. Marques emphasized this point stating,

“Managing up means being proactive—anticipating your manager’s needs and staying prepared. It’s about knowing the key questions they’ll ask before they even ask them.”

Work Loudly: Don't assume your work speaks for itself. Elonda highlighted the importance of "working loudly," stating,

"It's really about shifting from that humble 'I'm hardworking; my work will speak for itself' mindset to working loudly— not being afraid to speak about how you're progressing through your assignments, the quality and impact of your work, and keeping your manager informed about your status."

Expand Your Network Beyond Your Manager: Career success isn’t just about impressing your boss. Build strong relationships with senior leaders, key stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to broaden your opportunities and influence.

Navigate Challenging Relationships: When trust is lacking, prioritize active listening, understanding your manager's perspective, and seeking clarity— including through a 360-degree review. Don't hesitate to seek support from HR, a mentor, or a coach to facilitate difficult conversations.

Advocate for Your Growth: Employees who discuss their career goals with managers are 3.5x more likely to be promoted. Proactively share your aspirations and ask for opportunities to develop and advance.

C-Suite Coach, the preferred strategic partner in talent development and business solutions, is dedicated to helping your organization build a trusted workplace while cultivating a thriving culture. Submit a consultation request here to learn more about our services.