Chapter 11. Making difficult decisions in relation to your boss

One of the most important skills to develop is effective upward management. You may have strong views on the way the boss works, but at the end of the day the boss is the boss. The boss will always be open to influence from someone they trust, even though the degree of influence may sometimes appear marginal.

Key elements of effective upward management include:

  • clarity about respective roles;

  • conviction about the best of way of influencing someone;

  • courage to be clear in your views and not be overawed by an individual's status; and

  • effective communication with the boss both formally and informally.

It is always worth remembering that the person who is currently your boss will not always ...

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