Round Table China Managing up in the office
Jun 2, 2025
Bob Jones, a seasoned professional in workplace dynamics, shares insights on the art of 'managing up'. He emphasizes understanding a manager's goals and communication style to foster better collaboration. The discussion highlights the delicate balance between assertiveness and compliance, underscoring the importance of trust and clear communication in the employer-employee relationship. In a lighter segment, the hosts banter about personal hygiene habits, revealing surprising cultural variations in shower frequency and their psychological impacts.
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Managing Up Defined
- Managing up is a strategic approach to understand your manager's goals and communication style.
- It creates a win-win partnership rather than being about manipulation or just pleasing the boss.
Bob's Management Experiences
- Bob Jones shared experiences of top-down management where employees couldn't express suggestions.
- He contrasted this with collaborative bosses who invited team input and shared decision-making.
Communication is Key to Managing Up
- Managing up is about finding a communication style both employee and leader accept.
- Confidence is good, but never assume full understanding of company or society operations.
