Think managing up is just office politics? Think again. The truth is, your ability to work effectively with your boss isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s essential for your career success, your team’s performance, and actually getting stuff done.

Julie Binter returns to The Made Leader for our monthly coaching session to tackle one of the most undervalued leadership skills: managing up. As an emotional intelligence coach and consultant, Julie breaks down why this isn’t about being manipulative or fake—it’s about understanding what makes people tick and adapting your approach accordingly.

In this practical conversation, we dive into the real work of managing up: observing your boss’s communication style, asking the right questions to understand their pressures, and figuring out how to make their life easier while advancing your own goals. Julie shares why every boss has something that will frustrate you (spoiler: they’re not changing), and how self-awareness becomes your superpower in these relationships.

Whether you’re dealing with a detail-obsessed micromanager or a big-picture leader who skips your carefully prepared reports, this episode gives you a roadmap for managing up more effectively.

Key Highlights

• Managing up is a two-way process—you need self-awareness about your own style AND understanding of theirs
• Every boss has frustrating traits that won’t change—your job is to figure out how to work with them, not fix them
• Observe before you act: Pay attention to who gets resources, compliments, and recognition to understand what your boss values
• Ask the right questions: “What keeps you up at night?” and “What pressures are you getting from your boss?” reveal crucial insights
• Use existing assessment data—if your team has taken DISC, EQ, or other assessments, leverage that information for better relationships
• Focus on their strengths, not just what annoys you—they probably hired you because you have a strength they don’t have
• Share insights with your team—when you learn what matters to leadership, pass that crucial information down to help your team succeed
• Don’t expect your boss to meet all your needs—build relationships across the organization to get mentoring and support elsewhere
• Stay authentic while adapting—managing up doesn’t mean becoming someone else, just expanding your approach

Guest Bio

Julie Binter is the Founder of Clear The Way Coaching & Consulting, a company focused on helping leaders, teams, and organizations “get better at the people stuff.” As a highly accomplished leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, and trusted advisor with over 15 years of experience, she partners with people who want to increase their effectiveness, navigate change, and achieve professional and personal success. 

She is deeply committed to ensuring everyone can incorporate new knowledge and skills into “real life” and thrive in today’s working environment. Julie holds an M.A. in Organizational Development & Leadership from Fielding Graduate University and is an ICF credentialed coach and certified emotional intelligence assessor and facilitator.