Mastering Upward Management

We mange up

In the dynamic world of executive support, the ability to effectively manage up is a crucial skill that can significantly impact an EA’s success and career trajectory. Upward management, often referred to as "managing up," is the art of working proactively with your Executive to achieve mutual goals and foster a productive working relationship. For EAs, this skill is particularly vital as it can transform the nature of their role from purely administrative to that of a strategic partner.

Having this skill is becoming more and more requested - with a lot of job adverts these days listing “managing up” as one of the key requirements.

At its core, upward management is about understanding your executive's needs, priorities, and working style, and then aligning your efforts to support these effectively. It's not about manipulation or currying favour, but rather about creating a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties and, ultimately, the organisation as a whole.

One of the fundamental aspects of mastering upward management is developing a deep understanding of your executive. This goes beyond knowing their schedule or coffee preference. It involves comprehending their communication style, decision-making processes, strengths, weaknesses, and even their stressors and triggers.

By gaining this insight, you can anticipate needs, tailor your communication, and provide support in the most effective way possible.

To achieve this level of understanding, it's crucial to be observant and ask the right questions. When starting with a new executive, consider inquiring about their preferred communication methods, how they like to receive information, and what their key priorities are for the coming months. You can gauge their communication style pretty quickly as it’s probably the way that they communicate with you and the rest of their team. This information will serve as a foundation for your upward management strategy.

Communication