en

Services

Ireland's leading employers trust us to deliver fast, efficient hiring solutions that are tailored to their exact requirements. Browse our range of bespoke services and resources.

Read more
Jobs

Let our industry specialists listen to your aspirations and present your story to the most esteemed organisations in Ireland, as we collaborate to write the next chapter of your successful career.

See all jobs
Services

Ireland's leading employers trust us to deliver fast, efficient hiring solutions that are tailored to their exact requirements. Browse our range of bespoke services and resources.

Read more
About Robert Walters Ireland

Since our establishment 25 years ago, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationships with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Ireland

Learn more

How to master the art of managing up

Good managers spend a lot of time and energy understanding their team members — for example, what kind of support they need and how to get the best out of them

In return, good team members should similarly try to understand their managers and understand how to get the best out of them, as well. Knowing how to ‘manage upwards’ can help strengthen your working relationship and build trust. Here are four ways you can start to make your manager’s life (and yours) a whole lot easier:

Discover your manager’s working style

Finding out what makes your manager tick can go a long way towards building a successful working relationship. By understanding how your manager prefers to communicate, how they like to receive feedback, or what their biggest pet peeves are, you can adjust your own behaviour to make life a bit easier for both of you.

Your manager will appreciate you making the accommodation, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a more positive relationship with your manager.

Share more than you typically would

It’s always a good idea to be visible to your manager, but when working from home, it’s even more important. This isn’t about spamming your manager’s inbox with messages and updates (a sort of reverse micro-management) — indeed, by discovering their working style, you should understand the levels of communication that they prefer. 

Nevertheless, by keeping your manager informed about your progress, they won’t need to chase you for an update and thus have one less thing to worry about.

Build trust through your actions

Building trust is all about integrity. No one is perfect all the time, but doing what you say is one of the things that managers value the most. By delivering your work on time, or being on hand to help with additional projects, you can establish yourself as an independent worker who doesn’t need to be micro-managed.

After all, micro-management is often the result of a manager’s belief that you won’t complete your work without them checking up on you.

Remember to disagree

Your manager isn’t a mind-reader. If you disagree with a decision being made, or if you have a suggestion for how something might be improved, it’s up to you to make yourself heard. While you want to avoid coming across as overly confrontational, find a proper time and place for voicing reasonable and respectful disagreements.

Doing so shows that you care, and a good manager will respect and welcome alternative points of view — perhaps because your perspective had simply not occurred to him or her before. 

Share this article

Useful links

Sign up for job alerts
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View All
Prioritise personal development in 2025

The rising pressure to upskill in 2025, personal development has become a critical focus for professionals across Ireland. Recent surveys indicate that 58% of Irish professionals now feel increased pressure to upskill compared to just a year ago. This trend is exacerbated by the fact that 67% of emp

Read More
Setting career resolutions for 2025: Goal ideas and inspiration

As the New Year approaches, it’s time to focus on the next step in your professional journey. A new year provides a fresh opportunity to reflect, refocus, and reset your career aspirations. Whether you’re aiming for personal growth, professional development, or improved work-life balance, setting me

Read More
How to assess career progress and set goals for 2025

The start of a new year is the perfect time for a bit of self-reflection, especially regarding your career progress. Taking a step back to assess what you’ve accomplished and where you’ve encountered challenges can provide valuable insights, guiding your goal setting for a more focused and fulfillin

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.