This week’s episode is my five starter tips for approaching the topic of Managing Up.

Managing Up can also be described as managing by influence. It’s a topic that goes right to the heart of what it means to be effective as an Exec Assistant and it’s one of the biggest challenges that assistants grapple with when they’re building a relationship with their manager.

It begins with coming at your manager with a sense of curiosity. I love the quote

“Seek first to understand”, it’s the heading of Chapter Five in Stephen Covey’s book “The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People”

The better you understand your manager, the easier your life will be, and the more successful you will be

Tip #1 - Understand their priorities

Tip #2 - Keep these priorities front of mind and link back to them when you’re communicating with them

Tip #3 - Be genuinely committed to helping your boss be the best version of themselves

Tip #4 - Take things away from them that make sense

Tip #5 - Pick your moment

#48 ‘How to interview your boss to clarify expectations and perceptions’

Read my LinkedIn article on asking better questions https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-ways-ask-better-questions-liz-van-vliet/

If you are Sydney based I’d love to see you at the AIOP event celebrating Office Professionals Day on May 4th.

If you are listening from elsewhere in the world I’m also speaking on the topic of Managing Up as part of the Practically Perfect PA Virtual Summit 2018. Information available here.

Continuing on the theme of 'being' in this episode Liz shares how in pursuit of her 2018 word 'Strengthen' she has engaged a personal trainer and has noticed her internal flight reflex kicking in! 

Instead of coming down hard on herself, Liz shares how being kind to yourself is the order of the day. Progress over perfection people, that's what we want to focus on!