Video: Managing Up (10 minutes)

Founder takeaway

Treat managing up as an ongoing effort to understand how a leader thinks, communicates, prioritizes, and makes decisions—not as a collection of tactics for controlling the relationship.

Why it matters

Founders need people to coordinate effectively across differences in context and working style. Better mutual understanding can reduce friction, sharpen communication, and help teams act with greater alignment.

Relevant guides

Put it to work

Before your next meeting with a leader, ask: What outcomes do they care about, what information helps them decide, and where might I be relying on assumptions instead of clarifying their needs?