Managing Up and Across by Harvard Business Review Press Book Summary

Introduction

“Managing Up and Across” by Harvard Business Review Press explores strategies for effectively navigating professional relationships with bosses, peers, and other stakeholders. This comprehensive summary delves into key principles and actionable insights for building strong, productive relationships that enhance personal and organizational success.

Section One: Managing Up

Managing Your Boss

1. Understanding the Dual Role: A boss plays conflicting roles as both a supporter and evaluator. Recognize these dual roles and test their willingness to provide support incrementally. This duality can create confusion, so it’s essential to navigate this relationship carefully by understanding when your boss is acting as a coach versus a judge. For instance, in performance reviews, your boss might be in an evaluator role, while in project planning, they might act more as a coach. Recognizing these shifts helps you tailor your interactions accordingly.
2. Historical Influences: Past experiences with authority figures can influence your perception of your current boss. Be aware of these feelings to manage them effectively. For instance, if you have had negative experiences with previous bosses, you might project these experiences onto your current boss, which can hinder a productive relationship. Reflect on past interactions and consciously separate them from your current context to foster a healthier dynamic.
3. Mutual Dependence: Understand that your relationship with your boss is one of mutual dependence. Aim to make both of you effective by aligning your goals and actions. Recognizing this interdependence can help you approach the relationship with a mindset of collaboration rather than contention. For example, if you succeed, your boss looks good, and vice versa. By working together towards shared goals, you can create a more productive and harmonious work environment.
4. Communication and Trust: Establish trust by ensuring your boss knows your goals and plans. Over-communicate if necessary to avoid surprises and ensure alignment. Trust is built through transparency and consistent performance, so keep your boss informed about your progress and any potential issues. This could mean regular check-ins, detailed reports, or informal updates to keep your boss in the loop and demonstrate your reliability.
5. Leveraging Strengths: Identify and leverage your boss’s strengths to enhance your work effectiveness. Everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses, and by focusing on what your boss does well, you can create a more supportive and productive working relationship. For example, if your boss excels in strategic thinking, seek their input on long-term planning, while you might take the lead on detailed execution.

Winning Over Your New Boss

1. Easing into the Relationship: Gradually build your relationship with your new boss by observing their style and adapting your approach accordingly. This incremental approach helps in avoiding overwhelming your boss and allows for a smoother transition. Start with small, non-controversial tasks to gauge their preferences and expectations.
2. Collaboration and Honesty: Collaborate with your boss and be honest about your capabilities and intentions. Help them adjust to their new role by providing valuable insights and support. Building trust through honesty and support can set the stage for a strong working relationship. Share your strengths, be upfront about areas where you need support, and seek their guidance.
3. Early Engagement: Engage with your new boss early, showing your willingness to support their transition and goals. Early engagement demonstrates your proactive approach and commitment to the team’s success. Offer to help with their onboarding process, provide critical information about ongoing projects, and introduce them to key team members.

Steps for Presenting Problems or Opportunities to Your Boss

1. Describe the Issue: Clearly describe the problem or opportunity to your boss. Provide context and background information to ensure they fully understand the situation. Use specific examples and data to illustrate the issue comprehensively.
2. Propose Solutions: Present your proposed solution or approach. Offer well-thought-out options and recommendations to show you’ve considered multiple angles. Highlight the pros and cons of each option to demonstrate thorough analysis.
3. Explain Implications: Discuss the implications of your solution. Highlight potential outcomes and how they align with organizational goals. Explain both short-term and long-term impacts to provide a complete picture.
4. Highlight Benefits: Emphasize the benefits of your proposed solution. Show how it addresses the problem effectively and contributes to the organization’s success. Use quantifiable metrics and success stories to make your case stronger.
5. Accept Responsibility: Take responsibility for the outcome of your proposal. Show your commitment by being accountable for the results and willing to make necessary adjustments. This demonstrates leadership and reliability, building further trust with your boss.

Managing Up with Your Mentor’s Guidance

1. Navigating the Political Landscape: Mentors can help you understand your company’s political landscape and introduce you to key influencers. They provide valuable insights into the unspoken rules and power dynamics within the organization. Utilize their experience to navigate complex political situations and build strategic alliances.
2. Personal Brand Development: Work with mentors to develop your personal brand, ensuring it aligns with your career goals. A strong personal brand helps you stand out and communicate your value effectively. Identify your unique strengths and how you can leverage them to benefit your organization.
3. Feedback Processing: Seek mentors’ help in processing and incorporating feedback from your boss to improve your performance and relationship. Mentors can provide perspective and advice on how to handle constructive criticism and use it for growth. Regularly discuss feedback with your mentor to stay on track and continuously improve.

Dealing with Specific Boss Types

1. Micromanagers: Gain your boss’s trust by delivering results in a way that reduces their stress. Regularly update them on your progress to avoid unnecessary interference. Understand that micromanagement often stems from a lack of trust or anxiety about outcomes. Provide detailed plans and frequent updates to reassure them.
2. Incompetent Bosses: Focus on understanding your boss’s strengths and weaknesses. Find ways to complement their weaknesses with your strengths to improve overall performance. Recognize that your boss’s limitations are not a reflection of your abilities and look for ways to work around them. Take initiative to fill gaps and seek support from other leaders or mentors.
3. Conflict-Averse Bosses: Frame issues in a way that focuses on business results rather than personal conflicts. Use written communication to make discussions easier for conflict-averse bosses. Approach difficult conversations with empathy and tact to ensure productive outcomes. Propose solutions and frame discussions in terms of organizational benefits.
4. Providing Upward Feedback: Offer feedback to your boss with a focus on constructive and specific comments. Ensure your feedback is data-driven and framed positively. This can improve your boss’s performance and your working relationship if done thoughtfully. Prepare your feedback carefully and choose the right time and setting for the conversation.

Section Two: Managing Across

Managing Across

1. Emotional Intelligence: Effective cross-management requires emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. These qualities help in building strong, collaborative relationships. Develop these skills through self-reflection, training, and practice.
2. Self-Awareness: Understand your emotions, strengths, and weaknesses to manage relationships effectively. Self-awareness allows you to approach interactions with clarity and confidence. Regularly seek feedback and reflect on your experiences to enhance self-awareness.
3. Self-Regulation: Control your impulses and emotions to create an environment of trust and fairness. This is crucial for maintaining professionalism and fostering a positive work environment. Practice mindfulness and stress management techniques to improve self-regulation.
4. Motivation: Stay driven by internal goals and a passion for your work. Motivated individuals inspire and energize their peers, leading to higher team performance. Set challenging but achievable goals and regularly review your progress to stay motivated.
5. Empathy: Consider others’ feelings and perspectives in decision-making, particularly in team settings. Empathy fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where all team members feel valued. Practice active listening and put yourself in others’ shoes to understand their viewpoints better.
6. Social Skill: Build and maintain relationships that facilitate collaboration and influence. Social skills help in navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and achieving common goals. Engage in networking, seek opportunities to collaborate, and develop your communication skills.

The Discipline of Teams

1. Common Purpose: Develop a meaningful common purpose that the team helps shape. This shared purpose drives collective effort and commitment. Involve team members in defining the purpose to ensure buy-in and alignment.
2. Specific Goals: Set specific, measurable goals that align with the common purpose. Clear goals provide direction and a sense of accomplishment. Use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) criteria to set effective goals.
3. Commitment to Process: Agree on how work will be done, including roles, schedules, and decision-making processes. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working efficiently. Establish clear protocols and regularly review them to ensure they remain effective.
4. Mutual Accountability: Foster accountability among team members by creating and agreeing on shared goals. Mutual accountability strengthens trust and performance. Encourage open communication and peer feedback to maintain accountability.

Managing Remote Relationships

1. Clarify Expectations: Clearly outline expectations and responsibilities to make remote work productive and efficient. This minimizes misunderstandings and ensures alignment. Use tools like detailed job descriptions, performance metrics, and regular check-ins.
2. Regular Communication: Set up regular check-ins and keep a running list of updates to share with remote colleagues. Consistent communication helps maintain connection and coordination. Use various communication channels such as video calls, emails, and instant messaging to stay connected.
3. Respect After-Hours Time: Be mindful of remote colleagues’ time zones and after-hours commitments. Respecting their personal time fosters goodwill and prevents burnout. Schedule meetings and deadlines that consider their availability and workload.
4. Leverage Time Differences: Use time zone differences to your advantage by assigning tasks that can be completed overnight. This maximizes productivity and ensures continuous progress. Create a workflow that takes advantage of the global clock to keep projects moving around the clock.
5. Network Building: Develop and maintain a network within the organization to stay informed and connected. Networking is essential for remote employees to remain integrated and informed. Participate in virtual networking events, engage in company forums, and seek opportunities to collaborate on cross-functional projects.

Effective Networking

1. Analyze Connections: Identify the benefits provided by your existing network connections. Understand how each relationship contributes to your professional growth and goals. Evaluate your network regularly to ensure it meets your current needs.
2. De-Layer: Remove connections that do not contribute to your professional growth or goals. Streamline your network to focus on meaningful relationships. Prioritize quality over quantity to build a more effective network.
3. Diversify: Fill gaps in your network with people who can offer new insights, expertise, or support. A diverse network enhances learning and opportunity. Seek out connections from different industries, functions, and cultural backgrounds to broaden your perspective.
4. Energizers: Cultivate relationships with individuals who bring out the best in you and others around them. Energizers positively influence your mood and productivity. Identify and nurture relationships with people who inspire and motivate you.
5. Strategic Relationships: Build connections with people who can provide personal support, political influence, and developmental feedback. These relationships are crucial for career advancement and personal growth. Develop a balanced network that supports both professional and personal well-being.

Navigating Office Politics

1. Focus on Enterprise Good: Align your actions with the overall good of the organization. This perspective helps in making decisions that benefit the larger team and organization. Prioritize the organization’s mission and values in your decision-making process.
2. Professional Disagreements: Keep disagreements focused on issues, not personalities. This ensures that conflicts remain constructive and focused on problem-solving. Use evidence-based arguments and maintain a respectful tone during disagreements.
3. Information Sharing: Share information generously to build trust and influence. Transparency fosters a collaborative environment and reduces misunderstandings. Keep stakeholders informed about important developments and encourage open communication.
4. Promote Team Success: Highlight and share your team’s successes to ensure they are recognized. Publicizing achievements boosts team morale and credibility. Use newsletters, meetings, and reports to showcase your team’s accomplishments.
5. Make Allies: Turn rivals into collaborators to strengthen your network and influence. Building alliances enhances your ability to navigate office politics effectively. Identify common goals and seek opportunities to work together with potential rivals.

Key Takeaways

1. Mutual Dependence: Recognize the mutual dependence in your relationship with your boss and work towards mutual effectiveness. This understanding fosters collaboration and shared success. Approach your relationship with a mindset of partnership.
2. Cultural Awareness: Be aware of cultural differences in expectations and treatment of authority figures. Sensitivity to cultural nuances improves communication and relationship management. Educate yourself about cultural norms and adapt your approach accordingly.
3. Personal Development: Take responsibility for your development and seek opportunities for growth. Proactive learning and skill enhancement are critical for career advancement. Set personal development goals and seek feedback to continuously improve.
4. Conflict Management: Manage conflicts constructively and leverage diverse perspectives for better decision-making. Effective conflict resolution strengthens relationships and team dynamics. Use conflict as an opportunity to improve processes and relationships.
5. Networking: Build a strategic network that includes energizers, political influencers, and sources of personal support. A robust network is essential for professional success. Continuously expand and nurture your network to stay connected and informed.
6. Office Politics: Navigate office politics by focusing on the enterprise’s good, sharing information, and turning rivals into allies. Positive political engagement enhances influence and effectiveness. Stay professional and ethical in all interactions.

Recommended Actions

1. Clarify Goals and Plans: Ensure your boss is aware of and agrees with your goals and plans. Alignment with your boss’s expectations is crucial for mutual success. Regularly review and adjust your goals to stay aligned with organizational priorities.
2. Propose Solutions: Always bring solutions when presenting problems to your boss. This demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills. Prepare thoroughly and present well-supported recommendations.
3. Seek Mentor Guidance: Utilize mentors to navigate company politics and develop your personal brand. Mentors provide valuable insights and support for career growth. Schedule regular meetings with your mentor to discuss your progress and challenges.
4. Manage Multiple Bosses: Communicate clearly with multiple bosses and establish a system to manage conflicting demands. Clear communication and prioritization are key. Use tools like shared calendars and task management software to stay organized.
5. Develop Emotional Intelligence: Cultivate self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills to manage relationships effectively. Emotional intelligence is critical for leadership and collaboration. Invest in training and practice to enhance these skills.
6. Foster Team Accountability: Create a team environment where members hold each other accountable for shared goals. Mutual accountability enhances performance and trust. Encourage open communication and peer feedback to maintain accountability.

Top Quotes

1. “Your task is to make both of you effective.”
2. “Mentors can help you navigate your company’s political landscape and introduce you to key people.”
3. “Provide regular and detailed updates so your boss is aware of your progress.”
4. “Empathy means thoughtfully considering an employee’s feelings – along with other factors – in the process of making intelligent decisions.”
5. “Effective core networks typically range in size from 12 to 18 people.”

Final Thoughts

“Managing Up and Across” by Harvard Business Review Press provides essential strategies for building and maintaining productive relationships with bosses, peers, and other stakeholders. By understanding and applying these principles, individuals can enhance their professional effectiveness, navigate organizational dynamics, and achieve greater career success. Through thoughtful reflection and consistent application of these strategies, professionals can foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment.

This expanded summary delves deeper into each section and provides more context and actionable insights to enhance the understanding and application of the principles discussed in the book.