The Administration Mini-Fellowship met with our chairman, Dr. Michael Lucchesi, to discuss the concept of Managing Up. Here is an overview of what we discussed:
What is Managing Up?
Also known as the “politics of medicine”, it is the practice of forging a fruitful relationship with your higher-ups, whether they are senior residents, attendings, or administrators.
Why do it?
Learning how to work more effectively and efficiently with your superiors can increase your productivity and professional successes. It can make working on specific projects easier and lead to more responsibility in the workplace. On a personal level, it improves your work relationships, resulting in a better work environment with more employee engagement.
Managing up is particularly important when working with more challenging managerial situations, such as those who are:
- • New
- • Off-site (who you’re not working with face-to-face)
- • Insecure
- • Incompetent
- • Indecisive or authoritarian (either end of the spectrum)
- • In charge of hiring or firing personnel
What were the proposed strategies for managing up?
Our biggest takeaway from the evening was to bring solutions, not problems to your superior. If you’re bringing a problem, have at least one solution prepared prior to stepping into the conversation.
The second biggest takeaway was: Do not badmouth anyone. What goes around comes around, and speaking ill of someone, whether your superior or your direct colleague, will inevitably come back to you. Just don’t do it.
Communication is key! Whether it is about communicating your priorities to your boss, seeking feedback or telling them what isn’t working, good communication can foster a good work environment. If you feel overwhelmed, ask your manager to prioritize your projects. This facilitates communication and allows you to be more productive while not appearing to decline an opportunity.
Anticipate their needs. This does not mean you follow them around till you bump into the bathroom door after them or get them coffee. This refers to anticipating areas where you can share the burden with them, whether it is taking care of a presentation, assembling materials for a project, or alerting them ahead of time for certain meetings. To that end, do not pander to people or “brown-nose” – they can tell. Over time, it will help you learn about your boss’s motivations and passions so that you can attune yourself to them. If you can figure out what makes them tick and how to align your work with their goals, you will both be more productive.
And lastly, in the event of harsh words, do not take your boss personally. You may not know what is going on in their lives or what challenges they are facing. If you get reprimanded, it may not be about you. Take it at face value, and move on.
Now, go strive for success in the professional arena with these tips on managing up!
Admin Mini-Fellowship Leadership team was joined via Zoom by Dr. Lucchesi and other residents/attendings for our socially distanced meeting.
Compiled from:
- 1. Shellenbarger S. The Right and Wrong Way to Manage Up at the Office. WSJ. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-right-and-wrong-way-to-manage-up-at-the-office-1523366792. Published 2018. Accessed August 19, 2020.
- 2. John G, John K. Managing Your Boss. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2005/01/managing-your-boss. Published 2005. Accessed August 19, 2020.
- 3. Rousmaniere D. What Everyone Should Know About Managing Up. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/01/what-everyone-should-know-about-managing-up. Published 2015. Accessed August 19, 2020.
- 4. Fast N, Burris E, Burtel C. Research: Insecure Managers Don’t Want Your Suggestions. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2014/11/research-insecure-managers-dont-want-your-suggestions. Published 2014. Accessed August 19, 2020.
- 5. Reynolds J. What Does It Mean to Manage Up?. TINYpulse. https://www.tinypulse.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-manage-up. Published 2020. Accessed August 19, 2020.
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