Navigating Managing Up

In many organisations, the challenge isn’t just in innovating or improving processes, but also in ensuring that these changes are recognised and supported by senior leadership. Imagine a scenario where you’ve implemented a new strategy in your department that’s yielding positive results. However, despite the success, the c-suite remains focused on traditional methods and seems unaware of the progress being made. This disconnect can stall the potential for broader organisational impact due to a lack of communication and strategic alignment.

🫣 Understanding the Risk of Non-Communication

The default action—or rather, the inaction—of not communicating these successes can lead to significant organisational drawbacks. If senior leadership remains unaware of the new strategies’ effectiveness, the company may continue to operate under less effective practices, missing opportunities for efficiency and growth. This misalignment may also foster a culture resistant to change, making future innovations harder to implement.

❌ The Ineffective Approach: Remaining Silent

One common but counterproductive response is to avoid discussing the new strategy’s successes with senior leadership, perhaps out of fear that such initiatives might be viewed as overstepping. This silence prevents your successful strategy from gaining the recognition and resources it might need to scale across the organisation. It also keeps your department in a state of limbo, unable to fully embrace the new approach or revert to old methods without clear directives.

✅ Proactive Strategies for Managing Up

Here’s how you can effectively communicate and advocate for your successful strategy:

1. Prepare a Comprehensive Report: Compile a detailed report that outlines the successes of the new strategy. This should include quantifiable data showing improvements in efficiency, productivity, or other relevant metrics. Additionally, gather testimonials from employees and other stakeholders who have observed or experienced benefits from the new approach. These qualitative insights can help paint a fuller picture of the strategy’s impact.

2. Request a Strategic Meeting: Proactively seek a meeting with senior leaders to present your findings. Prepare a clear agenda that includes a presentation of the data, testimonials, and a discussion on how this strategy aligns with the organisation’s broader goals. Be ready to address potential questions or concerns, demonstrating not only the success of the strategy but also your thoughtfulness and preparedness in its execution. Anticipate their objections and have your answers ready.

3. Suggest a Pilot Expansion: Propose a controlled pilot to expand the strategy beyond your department. This approach allows upper management to see the potential impact on a larger scale without fully committing to a company-wide rollout. It also shows your initiative in taking the strategy from a departmental success to a potential organisational solution.

4. Establish Regular Updates: Offer to provide regular updates to senior leadership about the progress of the new strategy. This establishes an ongoing dialogue and keeps the lines of communication open, making it easier to report further successes or adapt the strategy based on feedback and results. It gives your senior leaders real confidence in your initiative and leadership.

Effectively managing up is crucial for aligning departmental innovations with overall organisational goals. By proactively communicating successes and strategically advocating for your initiatives, you not only enhance your department’s visibility and influence but also contribute to the organisation’s adaptability and growth. This approach ensures that innovative strategies are recognised and potentially adopted, leading to significant advancements in organisational effectiveness.