Managing Your Manager

The Career Skill Nobody Teaches You

Oct 06, 2025

👋 Hey, it’s Wamide! Welcome to issue #73 of OnGrowth&, a newsletter on personal development and career growth for 9-to-5ers, career switchers, emerging leaders, and part-time creators. I’m (re)designing my own life and career with intention, and here I share practical, actionable tips to help you do the same.

“So we should leave by 5:00pm then?” I asked.

It was 2015. I was a second-year associate at PwC, still new and wide-eyed. Myself and two other associates were called into a meeting with our manager, who was criticizing us for “always coming late.”

Never mind that we were regularly working until 9 or 10pm.

I couldn’t understand why 8:00am was sacred, but 5:00pm wasn’t. My offer letter said 9 to 5, and I wasn’t afraid to point that out.

My manager was shocked to be challenged. But for me, it was a valid concern - I wanted to do great work without being treated unfairly.

We eventually reached a compromise, but later that week, my senior manager (the one managing my manager) pulled me aside and said:

👉🏾 “You need to learn how to manage your manager.”

At the time, I didn’t fully get it. But after leading global teams across multiple countries, I see he was absolutely right.

Why You Need to Manage Your Manager

Sometimes you probably think your manager is out of touch (or even a little crazy; and yes, some people are). But here’s the truth: most managers are just like you - overworked, distracted, and juggling pressure from their own bosses.

I was 26 when I first became a people manager - leading a team of three, including a man in his 40s. You can imagine the clashes we had, although we found resolutions eventually.

Those tough moments didn’t just change how I work with managers - they also shaped how I guide my team to work with me, and how I advise others on managing up.

Here’s the key: managing up isn’t manipulation or eye-service. It’s about learning how to work with your manager in a way that benefits both of you.

Because when you learn how to manage up, you:
✅ Make your manager’s job easier (which they never forget)
✅ Make your impact visible (which gets you noticed)
✅ Open doors for growth and recognition

So how do you actually do it?

1. Understand their priorities/patterns

Every manager has pressure points. Maybe it’s the quarterly numbers. Maybe it’s client satisfaction. Maybe it’s reducing costs.

If you’re not clear on what your manager is optimizing for, you’ll waste energy on things that don’t move the needle.

👉🏾 Practical tip: In your next 1:1, ask directly: “What are the top 3 priorities for our team this quarter?” Then map your work updates around those priorities. It doesn’t mean you wouldn’t do anything else, but you know these updates are important for your manager. You’ll be surprised how much more progress you’d make.

2. Be proactive with communication

Don’t make your manager chase you for updates. If they do, you’ve already made their job harder. See my last post on being effective versus being efficient.

👉🏾 Practical tip: Send a short weekly update email or Slack message:

What you accomplished last week
What you’re working on this week
Any blockers they need to know about

This habit builds trust and shows that you’re on top of things.

3. Learn their style (and adapt)

I’ve had managers who are fine with short WhatsApp updates, and those who prefer one-on-ones to discuss in detail.

Every manager processes information differently. Some want all the data, some just want the big picture. Some like quick Slack updates, others want formal emails.

👉🏾 Practical tip: Pay attention to how they respond.

If your manager keeps asking, “Can you give me the summary?”, stop sending 3 pages of detail and match their style.

Adapting to their communication preferences saves both of you time and reduces misunderstandings.

4. Come with solutions, not just problems

Every manager already has a million and one things they’re dealing with that you can’t see. So nobody likes to hear “this isn’t working” without options.

If you flag a challenge, bring at least one possible way forward. Even if your solution isn’t perfect, it positions you as proactive rather than dependent.

👉🏾 Practical tip: The next time you hit a roadblock, try this phrasing:
“This approach isn’t giving the results we expected. I see two possible alternatives: would you like me to explore one of them?” Or “I’m currently facing ABC issue, I’ve started doing XYZ to attempt to resolve this, I’ll keep you updated.”

5. Make your wins visible

Your manager is busy. They won’t automatically see the hours you’re putting in or the small fires you’re putting out.

Don’t assume effort equals recognition. You must make your outcomes visible.

👉🏾 Practical tip: Frame updates in terms of impact:

Instead of: “I worked late to finish the deck.”
Try: “The deck I created helped us secure client approval in half the usual time.”

Can you see the difference? One is effort. The other is impact.

6. Manage expectations upward

Sometimes, managing your manager means protecting them from their own unrealistic timelines.

If you always say “yes” to everything, you’ll drown.

👉🏾 Practical tip: When they assign you something impossible, say:
“I can deliver X by Friday. If Y and Z are also urgent, which would you prefer I prioritize first?”

This shows respect but also sets realistic boundaries.

✨ Use this Mindset Shift and say after me:

Managing up is not manipulation; it’s collaboration.

It’s learning how to bring your best while helping your manager bring out theirs.

When you do this consistently, you’ll stop being “just another employee” and start being the person they trust, rely on, and want to grow with.

So ask yourself:
👉🏾 What’s one small shift I can make this week to make my manager’s job easier and make my work more visible?

Start there. Tiny changes compound into big career moves.

And because I know managing up is easier said than done, I’m inviting you to let’s talk about it together.

Ask me Anything

If you’ve ever wanted to ask someone about those questions keeping you up at night - from making your work visible to managing your manager, or navigating messy career situations, this is your chance.

I’m hosting my signature Ask Me Anything (AMA) workshop all about career growth, effectiveness, visibility, toxic workspaces, office politics, and thriving at work.

Here’s what one past attendee shared:

“I was overwhelmed and almost quit my job the week before, but I found the AMA session incredibly helpful, it felt like therapy. I’m confronting my work habits and now stacking skills to grow in my career.”

You’re not lost. You’re not confused. You just want more - and I’m here to help.

I usually charge $250 for a 2-hour one-on-one session, but it’s $10 for the AMA.

Bring your real questions and I’ll bring clarity.

Seats are limited, save yours here → wamide.com/ask-me-anything

Three more ways I can help you.

Personal SWOT Workbook – Get instant clarity on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; so you can make better career decisions and map out your next move with confidence. Grab the workbook.
1:1 Career Coaching – Need personalized guidance? Book a quick 30-min clarity session or dive deeper with my 4-week VIP coaching program to navigate your career transition, leadership challenge, or big decision. Book a one-on-one.
The Pivot Circle – Join a supportive network of ambitious professionals navigating transitions, redefining work and designing lives that fit. Weekly conversations, accountability, and hands-on support to help you stay on track. Join here.

Till next week,

All my love 💜