How To Manage Up and accelerate your PM promotion

It’s not what you think…

7 min read

Why does it matter?

For all Product Managers out there...In corporate life, we often hear that people leave their jobs because of bad bosses. As a manager, it's essential to become a trusted captain to increase the impact of Product Managers. However, blaming bosses entirely for a failed relationship takes away the employee's responsibility. In my current organization, you are the captain of your own ship. Essentially that means, you are responsible for your career, NOT your manager.

The day I realized this mindset shift, everything changed. The key to success might lie within you! Trust me there.

Whether you're starting with a new manager of Product Managers or an individual product manager contributor who wants to improve your existing working relationship, there are easy ways to manage up effectively. We've organized these tactics into seven categories for you to explore.

What’s in there?

🎯 Understand what your boss wants is just the beginning…

1. Align your priorities with your managers’ goals
2. Make your one-on-one work for you
3. Synthesize things before you present them
4. Over-communication
5. Follow-up, follow-up, especially in one case

1. Align your priorities with your managers’ goals

The key to effective managing up is to avoid assumptions about your boss's job and to align your goals with your manager's priorities. Building empathy and understanding your manager's urgent tasks are essential for a successful working relationship. Almost like you want to align your north start metrics with other product teams when trying to convince them that what you are building is important 😀you know what I meant here 😀 

• 🕵️‍♂️ Understand Your Manager's Perspective - JUST ASK: Recognize that you may only see a small part of what your manager does. Take the time to understand their role and the challenges they face.

• 🤝 Align on Success Metrics: Ensure both you and your manager have a clear understanding of what success means for you personally and for the team. Discuss these questions in your next one-on-one meeting and align your product strategy.

• 🤗 Show Empathy: Understand the stress your manager may be experiencing due to their workload. Offer support and help whenever possible to build rapport.

2. Make your one-on-one work for you

💼 Make the most of your one-on-one meetings with your manager to drive positive outcomes by preparing an agenda and showcasing your achievements.

• 💡 Treat one-on-one meetings as valuable "you" time to discuss both personal and professional matters.

• 📋 Prepare a meeting agenda covering product alignment with company goals, discussing at-risk features, and sharing how you plan to de-risk it. Your manager wants to know that.

• 🎯 Check whether your product goals align with your managers’ goals and seek assistance with any challenges you're facing.

3. Synthesize things before you present them

Before presenting information to your manager, synthesize it to provide valuable insights, leveraging your front-line visibility for unique perspectives and showcasing your potential for future leadership roles.

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