Managing Upwards - Escalate Your Career by Mastering the Power Dynamic

In January 2025, Forbes named managing upwards the number one skill for surviving—and thriving—in corporate life. And they were on to something. Your career isn’t built on output alone; it’s built on perceived value — on how effectively you translate your work into the language leadership understands and responds to. In this episode of The Escalation Podcast, I unpack the art of managing up. You’ll learn: 💡 How to build influence and credibility with the people above you. 💡 The 5 expert-backed tactics for managing up without kissing up (from HBR, Forbes, and Cambridge). 💡 How to map the real power structures in your organisation — the shadow networks that actually move decisions. 💡 And why visibility isn’t arrogance, it’s career currency. Managing the management isn’t about pleasing people. It’s about strategy, emotional intelligence, and owning your narrative. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated — this episode is the spark your career needs. ⏱ Episode Chapters 00:00 – The Anxiety of Managing Up 01:00 – Why Managing Up Is a Career Superpower 01:30 – Lessons from Credit Suisse 02:30 – Influence vs Technical Skill 03:00 – Perceived Value vs Performance 04:00 – The Danger of Invisibility 05:00 – Aligning With Management’s Agenda 05:30 – 5 Tactics to Manage Up 06:00 – Adapt to Leadership Styles (incl. Man Group) 07:00 – Strategic Questions & Visibility 08:00 – Emotional Intelligence in Power Dynamics 09:00 – Understanding Real vs Official Power Structures 10:30 – Managing Up at Senior Levels 11:30 – Final Reflection: Who Owns Your Narrative?