by Khyati Desai, YNPN DC 2009 Guest Blogger
Khyati is the Civic Engagement Manager at Points of Light & Hands On Network. She shares her great notes from the YNPN 2009 Professional Development Workshop: Managing Up– What Every Nonprofit Employee Needs to Know about Working Effectively with their Supervisors
Six Tips on Managing Up
In one particular tool, there are Four Social Styles-amiable, expressive, analytical, and driver. Each has their positive and negative sides. I’m unable to go through the exercise while blogging but I imagine that I’m a combination of Amiable, Expressive, and Driver. The idea is that you’ll want to be more like the style of your boss in order to create a better work environment or come to a neutral place. Therefore, if I’m less on the assertiveness side, then I would need to demonstrate more self direction. Many participants in the room found that they and their respective bosses are on the same side of the spectrum, which allows for good working conditions. Dan said those who were on different or opposites sides of their boss are said to have their work cut out for them!
If your supervisor is amiable, which is what mine may be, I would need to make genuine small talk, agree on goals and action plans, and assure them that decisions will have minimum risk.
A good leader surrounds themselves with people of different work styles because they see the value of having those perspectives.
Here are some tips on working with micromanagers:
- Be proactive in setting deadlines
- Ask them on what they prefer for method of communication
- Under promise and over deliver
- Ask them how to shift your priorities if new work is given
- Regularly seek clarification and updates on their objectives
- Understand management is not unilateral
Cozality on 
bsaunders on 
