Training Topics

Managing Your Manager

The idea of ‘managing your manager’ is a recent concept. Traditionally, we are expected to be told by our manager what to do and how to do it. However, more recently this approach is seen as not particularly rewarding or productive for anyone. Although the term “managing your manager” might imply manipulation or control of your manager, it isn't the case. It is a way for employees to become more proactive in their roles and through a partnership approach, and to help themselves and their managers to do their jobs better.

Individuals wishing to lean how to 'manage' their manager are often interested in finding ways to:

• Improve the overall quality of the communication between themselves and their manager
• Identify and better understand the reasons for any difficulties/conflict in their relationship with their manager
• Make better use of the positive aspects of the relationship they have with their manager
• Do things differently, so that their relationship with their manager improves and develops
• Develop useful techniques and strategies to deal with disagreements and differences in approach and style
• Have better control of their own work life and their career

'Managing your Manager' is ultimately about understanding that your manager is one of, if not the most, important customers you have. If there are disagreements or if there is a a lack of clarity, then it is about being proactive in trying to work things out in order to achieve a productive working partnership.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." Winston Churchill

How to spot high quality relationships between a person and their manager

Is the person able to:

1. Fulfil their responsibilities - are they genuinely committed/motivated to ensuing that they achieve their brief, including nurturing a positive relationship with their manager?

2. Communicate their expectations and needs - do they feel comfortable describing and asking for what they need as an individual, even if it seems inconvenient to their manager, or an unusual request?

3. Deal effectively with differences - do they acknowledge and openly discuss any differences in style or approach, and are they able to agree on a way forward that is mutually acceptable?

4. Utilise relative strengths and weaknesses - are they able to identify and acknowledge areas where they and their manager have different skills? Do they freely discuss with their manager how they can provide mutual support, and work collaboratively to benefit the team?

5. Focus on mutual aims and objectives - are they clear about their joint objectives with their manager and do they keep these at the heart of any decisions or actions?

6. Work collaboratively - do they understand that both they and their manager are dependent on the relationship for their own success? Do they therefore make every effort to create and maintain a positive partnership with their manager which is mutually beneficial?

Managing your Manager Training from H2

Our managing your manager (or proactive supervisee) training is designed to empower our delegates to become more effective in developing and managing a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with their own manager. We aim to strike a balance between presenting essential background information, and facilitating participative exercises and discussions that are both challenging and motivating, and that enable useful learning to take place that can be directly applied back in the workplace.

We can deliver managing your manager training virtually, or at a venue of your choice, for any number of participants.

Ready-to-Go Courses: Over the past 24 years, we've worked hard to devise and develop a range of courses that suit the broad needs of our customers. Ready-to-Go course titles relating to the topic of managing your manager include:

• Managing your Manager ("Proactive Supervisee")
• Emotional Intelligence at Work
• Assertive Communication
• Dealing with Difficult Relationships at Work
• Conflict Management

Bespoke Courses: If you have something more specific in mind, we can design and deliver a tailored course for you. Following a short pre-course consultation, we'll put together a course programme that reflects your specified priorities, and that includes exercises based on real-life case studies/scenarios. 

One-to-One Training: We also offer managing your manager training for those who may benefit from the undivided attention of our trainer. These one-to-one sessions are entirely focused on the specific needs/interests of the delegate, and are extremely well received for achieving lasting learning and observable improvements.

No-obligation Quote

Please CONTACT US today - just give us a brief outline of what you're looking to achieve, the number of participants and the proposed location, and we'll get back to you shortly.