One of the most overlooked leadership skills is managing up.
Not in a political sense. Not through influence games or corporate manoeuvring. But through strategic, deliberate leadership that helps you achieve strong performance while staying true to your values.
In today's organisations, leaders are surrounded by noise. Endless emails, competing priorities, restructures, strong personalities, and shifting agendas can easily consume energy that should be directed towards delivering results.
The most effective leaders rise above the noise.
They use emotional intelligence to understand the pressures others are facing without becoming emotionally entangled in them. They use cultural intelligence to adapt their communication and build trust across different personalities, backgrounds and leadership styles. Increasingly, they use AI and data-driven insights to bring evidence into conversations rather than opinions.
Most importantly, they develop resilience.
Resilient leaders understand that not every issue deserves their attention. They know the difference between influence and control. Rather than becoming frustrated by organisational politics, they focus on creating value where they can make the biggest difference.
What Managing Up Looks Like in Practice
Your executive changes direction unexpectedly.
Instead of complaining to colleagues, seek to understand the strategic context.
Try: "Help me understand what has changed so I can align my team's approach and deliver what is now most important."
This demonstrates emotional intelligence, adaptability and commitment to outcomes.
You disagree with a decision.
Rather than resisting, bring data and options.
Try: "The data suggests three potential risks with this approach. Would it be useful if I outlined some mitigation options?"
Influence grows when leaders bring solutions, not problems.
You see emerging risks that leaders may not.
Use AI, operational data and trend analysis to identify insights early.
Try: "I've analysed recent incidents and performance data. There appears to be a pattern emerging that may affect delivery over the next six months."
Leaders value foresight more than hindsight.
Corporate politics are creating noise.
Instead of getting involved, return to purpose.
Ask yourself:
Does this impact our strategic outcomes?
Can I influence the situation?
Will engaging add value?
If the answer is no, conserve your energy.
Resilient leaders do not win by attending every battle. They win by focusing on the battles that matter.
Where Resilience and Performance Meet
Many people believe high performance comes from working harder.
In my experience as a leader and executive resilience coach, sustainable performance comes from directing energy wisely.
When you manage up effectively:
You spend less time frustrated by decisions and more time influencing them.
You spend less energy navigating drama and more energy creating outcomes.
You increase your credibility and visibility without self-promotion.
You build stronger relationships based on trust rather than politics.
Over time, this creates something even more important than career progression.
It creates fulfilment.
The feeling that your work matters.
The confidence that your voice is heard.
The achievement that comes from knowing you have influenced outcomes while remaining authentic to your values.
Final Thought
Managing up is not about managing your boss.
It is about understanding people, reading the environment, using data wisely, building resilience and creating influence without getting caught up in organisational noise.
In a world full of competing agendas, be the leader who brings clarity, insight and calm.
That is where resilience, performance, achievement and fulfilment come together.