Melody Wilding: Navigating the Complexities of Managing Up

Melody Wilding, Professor of Human Behavior at Hunter College in New York City, and renowned for her expertise in workplace dynamics, has just published, “Managing Up: How To Get What You Need From The People In Charge.” It’s received outstanding reviews, is already a bestseller – and has become an indispensable guide for building effective relationships with bosses and even peers.

In “Managing Up,” Melody addresses the key problems employees face in their careers, from feeling micromanaged to struggling with office politics and to not getting promotions. Her book provides practical strategies and techniques to help readers reclaim control at work. She goes beyond typical advice, delving into human dynamics by offering specific scripts for handling complex workplace situations.

During our conversation, we explore why so many of us struggle with managing up, and the common misconceptions and challenges we face –especially those of us in leadership roles. Melody explains why relying upon our strong workplace performance alone isn’t sufficient to win influence with the people we report to. And, she stresses that adopting a “strategic, investigative mindset” to understand our managers leads to a greater understanding of how to successfully navigate these relationships.

One of the highlights of Melody’s book is the introduction of ten critical conversations every professional should have with their managers. Melody discusses the most important ones of these, and provides actionable advice on how to approach them.

Importantly, Melody also emphasizes that managing up isn’t solely the employee’s responsibility; she believes (and explains why) managers should also proactively provide clarity on how people working for them can succeed while under their leadership.

Managing up is an art, and during our conversation, she will teach you to be a master. It’s a fantastic and Illuminating conversation that will surely help you thrive in your career.

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