From The Green Notebook cover image

From The Green Notebook

Managing Up Without Sucking Up: Insights from Melody Wilding

Mar 8, 2025
59:40

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In this episode, host Joe sits down with Melody Wilding, an executive coach and author of Managing Up: How To Get What you Need From the People In Charge   to explore the dynamics of power, status, and influence in the workplace. Melody shares practical strategies for managing up effectively, not by being a sycophant, but by building stronger relationships, communicating with confidence, and navigating workplace dynamics with integrity. Together they discuss

  • What it really means to “manage up” (Hint: it’s not about being a suck-up)
  • Why proximity to power can distort your focus—and how to avoid the status trap
  • The importance of upward empathy and understanding your boss’s pressures
  • How to adapt to different leadership styles to build stronger relationships
  • The power of the “ME Manual” and why self-awareness is key to success
  • How to set boundaries at work—without damaging your reputation
  • The concept of “Pushback Power” and how to know when (and how) to say no

Whether you work in the military, corporate world, or any hierarchical environment, this conversation will help you become a more effective leader from wherever you stand.

A special thanks to this week's sponsors!

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Flexible Membership: After the trial, members can continue on a month-to-month basis with no contract obligations.

To get the exclusive FREE offer and an additional 15% off accessories, email Joe@fromthegreennotebook for a listeners-only discount code at checkout. 

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