Why Managing Up Is the #1 Skill You Need to Succeed in 2025

Why Managing Up Is the #1 Skill You Need to Succeed in 2025

Ever lie awake at night, replaying that email you sent to your boss in your head, wondering if it came across the right way? Or maybe you’re mentally prepping for that tough conversation about yet another shifting deadline, trying to figure out how to keep your cool?

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Maybe you freeze up when your boss drops unexpected feedback, or you struggle to speak up for what you need—whether it’s more resources, flexibility, or just a little support. These moments can leave you feeling stuck, defensive, or just plain exhausted.

And what’s the go-to advice we always hear? Work on your confidence. Practice self-care. Be kinder to yourself. Sure, those things help. But let’s be real: when it comes to navigating workplace relationships—especially with those above us—it’s not just about fixing ourselves. It’s about understanding the dynamics at play and finding better ways to connect, communicate, and advocate for what we need.

Because here’s the thing: you’re not the problem. Workplace relationships are tricky, and they take work—on both sides. So, let’s talk about how to make them better.

While working on your internal mindset is important, it’s only half the battle. True success at work isn’t just about managing your own psychology—it’s about understanding and navigating the psychology of others, too. Every day, you’re stepping into a complex web of interpersonal dynamics:

• Your boss’s stress levels (and how they affect their decisions)

• The pet peeves of senior leaders (and how to avoid triggering them)

• The subtle power plays in meetings (and how to hold your own)

• The unwritten rules of your workplace culture (and how to work within them)

When you don’t have the tools to navigate these dynamics effectively, it’s easy to feel stuck. You overthink every interaction, second-guess your decisions, and miss out on opportunities because you’re not sure how to position yourself. And the frustrating part? It’s not because you’re not doing great work—it’s because no one ever taught you how to manage up.

This isn’t about lacking confidence, being “too sensitive,” or needing to “toughen up.” It’s not about you doing something wrong, either. It’s about learning a critical skill that’s rarely talked about but absolutely essential: the art of managing up. Because when you can navigate these dynamics with intention and skill, you’ll not only make a bigger impact—you’ll also find more peace of mind in your career.

Why Managing Up Is the Career Skill You Need Right Now

Managing up is all about strategically navigating relationships with those who hold more positional power than you—yes, we’re talking about your boss.

When you hear “managing up,” you might picture some outdated 1980s advice about brown-nosing or memorizing your boss’s coffee order. But let’s be clear: that’s not what this is about. In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving workplace, managing up has become more important than ever—just not in the way you might expect.

It’s not about playing office politics or trying to win favor. It’s about building a productive, mutually beneficial relationship with your boss so you can get the support, resources, and clarity you need to do your best work. When done right, managing up isn’t just good for you—it’s good for your boss, your team, and your organization as a whole.

Closing the Gap: How to Ensure Decision-Makers See Your Full Value

With hybrid work now a permanent fixture, the organic opportunities to build relationships with decision-makers have dwindled. Remember those casual elevator chats or impromptu coffee breaks where you could naturally connect with senior leaders? Those moments are largely a thing of the past. Instead, we’re left with scheduled Zoom calls and asynchronous messages, which make it harder to showcase your strategic thinking or build the kind of trust that opens doors to bigger opportunities.

This visibility gap is especially challenging when you’re vying for resources, advocating for your team, or positioning yourself for a promotion. When your boss only sees you through the narrow lens of project updates and status meetings, they miss the full picture of what you bring to the table. They don’t witness how you mentor junior team members, quietly resolve conflicts before they blow up, or proactively identify and solve problems before they become crises.

That’s why mastering the art of managing up isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about strategically communicating your impact and building influence in every interaction, no matter how small or routine.

Think about it: every touchpoint is an opportunity. A quick Slack message can become a chance to demonstrate strategic thinking. A brief one-on-one meeting can be a moment to deepen professional connections. Even a routine email can reinforce your value and foresight. In a world where face-to-face time is limited, every interaction counts.

The key is to approach these moments with intention. By thoughtfully showcasing your contributions and building trust in every exchange, you can bridge the visibility gap and ensure decision-makers see the full scope of what you bring to the table. Because when they do, it’s not just your career that benefits—it’s your team, your projects, and your organization as a whole.

Managing Up in a Time of Overwhelm: Turning Challenges Into Wins

Let’s face it: your boss is juggling a lot. Multiple teams, often spread across time zones. Constant reorganizations, shifting priorities, and pressure from their own bosses. All that stress and uncertainty? Yeah, it trickles down to you.

Their calendar is a sea of back-to-back meetings, leaving you with vague feedback in rushed Slack messages. Strategic discussions get sidelined by tactical fire drills, where you’re just trying to check boxes and put out fires. That promotion conversation you’ve been waiting for? It keeps getting pushed back. Your requests for resources or flexibility? They’re stuck in limbo because your boss “needs more time to think about it.”

Here’s the reality: your success, peace of mind, and professional happiness don’t just depend on your performance anymore. They depend on your ability to navigate the chaos above you. It’s about getting clear direction when your boss is scattered. Making your ideas heard when everyone’s overwhelmed. Securing buy-in for resources when budgets are tight. And turning that occasional work-from-home day into a permanent arrangement.

In other words, it’s not enough to just do great work. You need to master the art of managing up—turning challenging situations into opportunities to advocate for yourself, your team, and your goals. Because when you can do that, you’re not just surviving the chaos; you’re thriving in spite of it.

AI Can't Navigate Human Dynamics—Your Ability to Read the Room Sets You Apart

It’s true: AI is getting better every day at tactical skills like writing code, analyzing data, and drafting documents. And while that’s impressive, it also means that technical expertise alone won’t set you apart for much longer. What will? Your ability to communicate effectively and navigate complex human dynamics.

Think about it. AI can write a report, but it can’t read your boss’s subtle non-verbal cues during a meeting. It can crunch numbers, but it can’t persuade a skeptical senior leader to take a chance on your bold, innovative idea. It can schedule meetings, but it can’t build the kind of trust and rapport that turns your boss into your biggest advocate.

The real career differentiator in the age of AI is your ability to navigate human dynamics, build strategic relationships, and influence decision-makers. The most successful people in your organization aren’t just technical experts—they’re masters at understanding and maneuvering through workplace politics and personalities. They know when to push for their ideas and when to hold back. They understand how to frame proposals in ways that resonate with different stakeholders. And they’re skilled at building coalitions of support to bring their initiatives to life.

In short, the future belongs to those who can blend technical expertise with emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and the ability to connect with others. Because while AI can handle the tasks, it’s the human touch that will always make the difference.

Beyond Your Manager: How to Influence Across the Organization

Today’s matrix organizations mean you’re constantly navigating relationships with multiple stakeholders who influence your work. Your success no longer depends on just one person. Sure, your direct boss matters, but now many people impact your work—like the client whose feedback shapes your reputation, the VP who controls the budget, or the peer in another department whose support you need. Each has their own way of working and their own idea of success.

Success requires understanding these power dynamics and influencing them effectively. This makes getting things done more complicated than ever. You might have your boss’s support, but without buy-in from the director in Operations, your idea stalls. You could excel with your manager, but if a senior stakeholder isn’t happy, it could hurt your promotion chances.

How Will You Choose to Navigate the New World of Work?

Work isn’t getting any simpler. The days of having just one boss to please or a clear, straightforward path to success are long gone. In this new reality, managing up isn’t just another skill—it’s your competitive advantage.

You can’t control when your boss drops a last-minute project on your desk or when a senior leader makes decisions without consulting you. But you absolutely can control how you navigate these situations.

The future belongs to those who can skillfully and strategically navigate these complex workplace dynamics. So, the question is: Which path will you choose?

Why Managing Up Is the #1 Skill You Need to Succeed in 2025