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Managing Up

Do you struggle to share feedback with your superiors? Do you need to learn how to develop rapport and credibility with them first? Learn these skills and more from the Managing Up course!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Start Here

Building a coalition

Building bonds rooted in growth

Cultivating liking

Course Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops essential interpersonal and communication skills for managing up effectively

Taught by CareerCatalyst, recognized thought leaders in professional development

Provides practical strategies for building rapport and credibility with superiors

Covers key concepts such as building coalitions, cultivating liking, and establishing growth-oriented bonds

Lacks hands-on exercises or simulations to practice skills

May be limited for individuals seeking advanced or specialized techniques in managing up

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Managing Up with these activities:

Review Ground Floor Management Concepts

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Knowing the foundational principles of management will help set a strong starting position

Browse courses on Management Principles

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Review notes or previous material that covers entry-level management skills
Retake online practice quizzes on introductory management topics
Consult books on fundamental management functions, such as planning, organizing, leading, and controlling

Read 'Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High' by Al Switzler

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This book provides practical strategies for having difficult conversations, which can be helpful when managing upward

View Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book 'Crucial Conversations'
Read the book and highlight or take notes on key concepts
Discuss the book with a colleague or mentor to enhance your understanding

Role Play Supervisor Interactions

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Boost your confidence in communicating feedback or requests to your superiors by role playing

Browse courses on Rapport Building

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Find a colleague to participate in role playing supervisor interactions
Prepare scenarios that reflect common situations where you need to provide feedback or make requests to your supervisor
Take turns playing the role of the supervisor and the employee
Seek feedback from your colleague to refine your approach

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Build a Resource Compilation on Managing Upward Strategies

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Creating this compilation will help you gather and organize a variety of resources on managing upward

Browse courses on Research

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Gather articles, blog posts, videos, and other resources on managing upward
Organize the resources into categories or themes
Add brief summaries or annotations to each resource
Share your compilation with colleagues or a broader audience

Attend a Networking Workshop

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Networking events are great places to build relationships with potential mentors

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Research and identify networking workshops related to your field or industry
Register for the workshop and prepare to actively participate
Attend the workshop and engage with speakers, attendees, and potential mentors
Follow up with individuals you made connections with during the workshop

Mentor a Junior Colleague

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Mentoring can help you reinforce your understanding of management principles

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Identify a junior colleague who would benefit from your guidance and support
Set clear goals and expectations for the mentoring relationship
Regularly meet with your mentee to provide guidance, feedback, and support
Track your mentee's progress and adjust your approach as needed

Develop a Presentation on Managing Upward Strategies

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Creating a presentation will both reinforce your learning and give you a tool to teach others

Browse courses on Presentation Skills

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Gather information and research best practices for managing upward
Develop an outline and structure for your presentation
Create slides and visual aids to support your content
Practice delivering your presentation and seek feedback to refine your delivery
Share your presentation with colleagues or a broader audience

Contribute to Open Source Projects Related to Management

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Contributing to open source projects can provide practical experience in applying management principles

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open source projects related to management or leadership
Review the project documentation and codebase to understand the project's goals and needs
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and knowledge
Make code contributions, write documentation, or participate in project discussions
Collaborate with other contributors to enhance your learning and network

Career center

Learners who complete Managing Up will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources function of a business. They may also be responsible for managing human resources teams and providing feedback to human resources staff. The Managing Up course can help Human Resources Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in human resources management, as they enable Human Resources Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their human resources goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Management Consultant

Management Consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses on how to improve their operations. They may also be responsible for managing consulting teams and providing feedback to consulting staff. The Managing Up course can help Management Consultants improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in management consulting, as they enable Management Consultants to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their consulting goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns, managing marketing budgets, and tracking marketing results. They may also be responsible for managing marketing teams and providing feedback to marketing staff. The Managing Up course can help Marketing Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in marketing management, as they enable Marketing Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their marketing goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They may also be responsible for managing project teams and providing feedback to project staff. The Managing Up course can help Project Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in project management, as they enable Project Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their project goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams, developing sales strategies, and achieving sales targets. They may also be responsible for managing customer relationships and providing feedback to sales representatives. The Managing Up course can help Sales Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in sales management, as they enable Sales Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their sales goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. They may also be responsible for managing business analysis teams and providing feedback to business analysis staff. The Managing Up course can help Business Analysts improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in business analysis, as they enable Business Analysts to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their business analysis goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They may also be responsible for managing software engineering teams and providing feedback to software engineering staff. The Managing Up course can help Software Engineers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in software engineering, as they enable Software Engineers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their software engineering goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to provide insights for businesses. They may also be responsible for managing data analysis teams and providing feedback to data analysis staff. The Managing Up course can help Data Analysts improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in data analysis, as they enable Data Analysts to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their data analysis goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. They may also be responsible for managing product marketing and sales, and providing feedback to product development teams. The Managing Up course can help Product Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in product management, as they enable Product Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their product goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a business. They may also be responsible for managing operations teams and providing feedback to operations staff. The Managing Up course can help Operations Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in operations management, as they enable Operations Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their operations goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Auditor

Auditors are responsible for examining and evaluating financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations. They may also be responsible for managing audit teams and providing feedback to audit staff. The Managing Up course can help Auditors improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in auditing, as they enable Auditors to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their audit goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants are responsible for preparing and filing tax returns, providing tax advice, and managing tax audits. They may also be responsible for managing tax accounting teams and providing feedback to tax accounting staff. The Managing Up course can help Tax Accountants improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in tax accounting, as they enable Tax Accountants to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their tax accounting goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Accountant

Accountant

Accountants are responsible for preparing and analyzing financial statements, managing financial records, and providing financial advice. They may also be responsible for managing accounting teams and providing feedback to accounting staff. The Managing Up course can help Accountants improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in accounting, as they enable Accountants to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their accounting goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Information Technology Manager

Information Technology Managers are responsible for managing the information technology function of a business. They may also be responsible for managing information technology teams and providing feedback to information technology staff. The Managing Up course can help Information Technology Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in information technology management, as they enable Information Technology Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their information technology goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Manager

Finance Manager

Finance Managers are responsible for managing the finance function of a business. They may also be responsible for managing finance teams and providing feedback to finance staff. The Managing Up course can help Finance Managers improve their communication and interpersonal skills, build stronger relationships with superiors, and develop strategies for providing effective feedback. These skills are essential for success in finance management, as they enable Finance Managers to effectively lead and motivate their teams and achieve their finance goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Finance Manager

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Managing Up .

The Student Leadership Challenge

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Provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and developing leadership skills. It is particularly useful for those who want to learn how to build relationships, inspire others, and create a positive work environment.

Managing Up

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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