Managing Up: The Product Management Career Skill No One Teaches You

The Product Porch

Ever been caught between wanting to show your boss you’ve got it handled and realizing later you probably should have checked in sooner? In this episode, the Porch crew dives into the often-overlooked skill of managing up.

Joe, Ryan, and Todd share stories about times they got it wrong, what they learned from it, and how managing up is not about politics. It is about clarity, trust, and communication. They unpack how to balance initiative with alignment, how to navigate difficult managers (and their managers), and why humility might be the most underrated leadership skill of all.

If you want to build better relationships with leadership or make your boss look good without feeling like a sellout, we can’t wait for you to join the conversation on the porch.

Time Stamped Notes

Introduction and Opening Remarks
[00:00] Humility and grit – The crew opens with humor and sets the stage for the theme of managing up.

Why Managing Up Matters
[01:56] Joe’s early career lesson – A failed project teaches him that not engaging leadership can erode trust.
[03:00] Defining “managing up” – It’s more than updates; it’s about aligning expectations and maintaining visibility.

Common Missteps
[07:19] The “yes person” trap – Blindly following direction without alignment leads to frustration and missed goals.
[09:00] Balancing confidence and humility – How to ask for feedback without seeming weak.

How to Manage Up Effectively
[10:30] Communication rules – Ask questions instead of making assumptions.
[11:30] Bottom-line-up-front approach – How to check alignment and communicate clearly with your boss.
[12:30] One-on-ones done right – Use them to look forward, not backward.
[13:36] Write things down – Use documentation to confirm goals, deadlines, and assumptions.

Dealing with Difficult Managers
[15:00] When your boss isn’t great – How to set expectations and coach upward.
[17:30] Push for clarity – Encourage managers to align on goals and outcomes even when they don’t naturally do it.

Managing Up Across the Organization
[20:26] Beyond your boss – Managing up means managing across departments and leadership tiers.
[22:49] “Make your boss the hero” – How supporting leadership can help your own career.

Recovering from Mistakes
[25:31] How to rebuild trust – Admit errors early and commit to doing better.
[26:41] Humility and grit – Why these two traits matter more than almost anything else.

Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
[27:30] Align expectations to avoid frustration.
[36:08] Final reflections – Managing up as an essential skill for every product professional.

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