Managing Up
Issue 001
You did the work, you hit the deadline, you even flagged the risk weeks before it became a problem. And somehow your manager is still surprised. Managing up isn't about working harder, it's about making your work visible and being heard.
The List
Three ways to communicate managing up:
Make their goals your goals: Before your next 1:1, ask yourself what your manager is being measured on this quarter. Then show up with that in mind. It changes the whole conversation.
Give your manager feedback too: At the end of your 1:1, add one agenda item: feedback for them. It doesn't have to be big. "That last all-hands was really clear, more of that please!" counts. Managers rarely get feedback from their team and they (really really) need it.
Ask your company for managing up reviews: Most companies do top-down performance reviews. Ask HR or your manager if upward reviews are in the pipeline to make team work even stronger.
The Situation: “I told you so” but make it professional
Your manager is surprised by something you flagged weeks ago. It’s now a problem. You’re frustrated, they’re stressed, and pointing it out won’t help either of you.
What to say in your next 1:1:
"I want to make sure we're staying aligned on the project goals. I flagged this issue a few weeks back, can we talk about how we surface these kinds of things earlier so they don't catch us off guard?"
What to say in the moment if it comes up in a meeting:
"I did flag this a few weeks ago. I’m happy to walk through what I saw and how we can get ahead of the next one."
The key move in both: you're not saying "I told you so." You're offering a system fix, not a blame assign. That's managing up.
The Find
Becoming an Epic Product Engineer Podcast, hosted by Kent C. Dodds
Being a guest on this podcast sparked this newsletter. If you're an engineer who wants to grow beyond the code, start here.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
Many engineers are introverts. This book reframes that as a strength, not a limitation. It should be required reading if you've ever been told you need to "speak up more.”
This week’s quick explainer before you go.
Explain AI to a Kindergartner 🍕
Imagine you’ve eaten every type of food in the entire world. You’d know what everything tastes like. So if I asked you what pizza was like, you’d say “warm and cheesy!” without even thinking about it.
AI is similar. It has read all the information on the internet. So when you go to a phone or computer and ask it a question, it already knows the answer.
Pretty cool, right?
Got a bad batch moment? Reply and let me know — it might become a future issue.
See you next week,
— Erin
Great issue Erin! I especially loved your point about giving your manager feedback. I never really think about the fact that my manager’s performance is being scrutinized, too, and that they probably don’t receive nearly as much feedback as ICs do. You changed my view of what it means to manage up. I’m super stoked for the release of your Becoming An Epic Product Engineer podcast episode. When does it drop?