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🌤️ GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!
Happy Wednesday! You've reached the midpoint of the week—the perfect time to reflect on one of the most important relationships in your professional life, the one with your manager. In today's increasingly remote and hybrid work environment, the dynamics of "managing up" have fundamentally changed. Let's explore how to thrive in this new landscape.
📌 TODAYS FOCUS: MANAGING UP IN THE REMOTE ERA
When hallway conversations and impromptu office drop-ins disappeared, so did many traditional ways of building a connection with leadership. Yet the need to effectively manage up—aligning with your boss's priorities and communication style—has never been more critical for career growth.
Four strategies that work in a digital-first environment:
Embrace structured visibility. Without the natural visibility of an office, you need intentional ways to showcase your work. Consider sending a weekly "wins and roadblocks" email that highlights accomplishments, current challenges, and upcoming priorities. Keep it concise—bullet points work wonders.
Master asynchronous communication. Your manager likely juggles multiple priorities and time zones. When sending messages, frontload the important information and clearly indicate when you need a response. A simple "FYI only" versus "Decision needed by Thursday" can dramatically improve your communication effectiveness.
Build relationship equity before you need it. Schedule occasional non-agenda check-ins just to connect as humans. Ask about their current challenges and priorities. Understanding what keeps your boss up at night helps you align your work with what matters most to them.
Become a solution-finder, not just a problem-reporter. When bringing challenges to your manager, come prepared with at least one potential solution. This demonstrates initiative and makes it easier for them to provide guidance.
💡 QUICK TIP: THE 3-MINUTE RULE
Before sending any important update to your manager, ask yourself: "Could they understand the key points in under 3 minutes?" If not, restructure your communication. Start with the headline, then provide context. Your boss will appreciate your respect for their time.
🔄 SHIFTING FROM: "MY MANAGER SHOULD KNOW WHAT I NEED" TO "I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATING MY NEEDS"
Remote work has eliminated many casual opportunities for managers to pick up on team members' needs. Instead of expecting your manager to intuitively understand your challenges, explicitly communicate:
What resources would help you succeed.
Where you need guidance versus autonomy.
Your career development goals and interests.
As career strategist Gorick Ng notes: "The biggest challenge in remote work isn't productivity—it's the lack of accidental information exchange."
📊 A FEW GOOD READS TO CHECK OUT
"Remote Leadership: A Guide for Managers" by David Burkus – Practical frameworks for leading teams you rarely see in person.
"Taking the Work Out of Networking" by Karen Wickre – Strategies for building professional relationships for introverts that work beautifully in remote settings.
👋 BEFORE YOU GO
What's one way you've successfully built a strong relationship with a manager you rarely see in person? Reply to share your technique—we'd love to feature it in an upcoming edition. Email us at: [email protected]
Until Tomorrow,
The Casual Workweek
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