Manage up on purpose

Why this rule exists

Your manager's support isn't automatic; it's built or eroded by how deliberately you keep them informed, and a boss surprised by bad news is a boss who trusts you less next time. Many good managers neglect this, treating managing up as politics beneath them, and then wonder why they lack the air cover and resources their team needs. Managing up isn't flattery; it's making your boss's job easier and their picture of your work accurate. Do it well and you can shield your team; neglect it and you can't.