If you have ever felt frustrated, unseen or misunderstood at work, managing up is your way forward.
In this episode, Daniel sits down with bestselling author, speaker and organisational culture expert Mary Abbajay to break down a topic every professional faces but few ever learn how to navigate: managing up.
Mary shares the insights behind her book Managing Up and explains why developing strong relationships with your managers is essential for long term career success.
She talks openly about her own career path, the rise of workplace complexity, and the reality that most bosses were never trained to manage people well.
Together, they explore the most common types of difficult bosses including the micromanager, the impulsive leader and the introverted ghost boss. Mary offers practical and actionable strategies for managing each one. From learning how to communicate clearly, to adapting to different working styles, to knowing when a boss is actually toxic, she offers a roadmap for anyone who wants to feel more empowered in their role.
Timestamps
00:00 Introducing Mary and her work
01:45 Mary’s career story
04:26 What managing up really means
11:56 Understanding different kinds of bosses
15:46 Practical strategies for managing up
20:42 How working styles shape workplace dynamics
21:19 Exploring the ghost boss
22:59 Communicating effectively with your boss
24:16 Building better relationships with managers
26:33 Adapting to leadership styles that differ from yours
32:12 The modern workplace and shifting expectations
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