Address
Level 8/25 Restwell Street, Bankstown NSW 2200, Australia
Business Hours
Monday to Friday: 10AM - 6PM
Weekend: CLOSED
Managing Up – The Art of Leading from Behind
Build a stronger, more productive relationship with your manager. This practical, self-paced course shows you how to understand your manager’s goals, priorities and working style, communicate expectations clearly and offer ideas and solutions that earn trust. You’ll also learn to handle disagreement respectfully and take ownership of your work, so you can lead from behind and drive results for your team and your career.
Duration
2 Days (12 Hours)
Modules
6 Modules
Course type
SoftSkills
Course Overview
This is a forward-thinking course designed to help professionals influence upward, align strategically with leadership, and accelerate their careers. Blending behavioral intelligence, communication frameworks, and emotional insight, it teaches how to decode managerial styles, craft impactful conversations, manage shifting expectations, and navigate power dynamics with confidence. Learners will gain tools to build trust, adapt to hybrid environments, and become proactive co-leaders in a workplace where influence matters more than hierarchy.
Before You Begin
- Experience Working in a Team or Reporting to a Supervisor
- Openness to Self-Reflection and Emotional Intelligence Concepts
Key outcomes
- Understand how to lead without authority by building trust, navigating power dynamics, and shaping outcomes through strategic communication.
- Learn to interpret your supervisor’s behaviors, priorities, and stressors to tailor your communication for better alignment and impact.
- Use proven frameworks like PREP and storytelling techniques to hold persuasive, clear, and solution-oriented discussions with your manager.
- Gain tools to clarify expectations, handle goal changes with confidence, and design transparent update systems to build credibility.
- Develop emotional agility and language techniques to manage upward during conflict, crises, or organizational change while maintaining professionalism.
What You’ll Learn
6 modules
1Module 1: Rethinking Hierarchy – The New Leadership Equation
1. Power Dynamics in the Flat World 2. Mutual Accountability – The Silent Contract 3. Influence Without Authority 4. The Psychology of Upward Trust
2Module 2: Decoding Your Supervisor’s Blueprint
1. Reading Between the Lines – Interpreting Leadership Styles 2. The Hidden Map – What Keeps Your Manager Awake at Night 3. Adaptive Communication – Matching Energy, Tone, and Timing 4. Creating a Two-Way Feedback Ecosystem
3Module 3: The Art of Strategic Conversation
1. The “PREP” Framework – Position, Reason, Evidence, Propose 2. Turning Data into Influence – Storytelling with Substance 3. Assertiveness vs. Agreement – Striking the Right Tone 4. The Check-In Ritual – Setting Rhythm for Success
4Module 4: Managing Expectations, Not Just Tasks
1. Translating Vision into Action 2. The Expectation Paradox – When Goals Keep Changing 3. Escalation vs. Communication – Knowing When to Speak Up 4. Designing Clarity – Visual Tools for Transparent Updates
5Module 5: Navigating Conflict and Power Shifts
1. The “Power Lens” – Seeing Conflict Through Influence 2. De-Escalation Language – The 5-Step Calm Technique 3. Managing Up During Crisis or Change 4. Building Professional Resilience
6Module 6: The Future of Managing Up – AI, Empathy, and Hybrid Leadership
1. AI as the New Middle Manager – Communicating Through Systems 2. Empathy in Virtual Supervision 3. The Human Brand – Leading with Integrity in a Digital World 4. Personal Growth Plans – From Managed to Co-Leader
Certification & Credentials
Certificate track
2 Days (12 Hours)
Frequently asked questions
What does “managing up” really mean?
Managing up is the skill of proactively and strategically working with your supervisor to build trust, align on goals, and improve collaboration. It’s about leading from where you are—not manipulating, but communicating with clarity, empathy, and impact.
Is this course only for people in leadership roles?
Not at all. This course is designed for professionals at any level who report to a supervisor. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned contributor, the skills you'll learn are essential for growth and influence.
Will this help me handle difficult conversations with my manager?
Yes. The course provides communication frameworks, de-escalation techniques, and emotional intelligence tools to help you navigate conflict, give feedback, and have assertive but respectful conversations.
What if my manager has a completely different communication style from mine?
You’ll learn how to adapt your tone, timing, and message format to better match your manager’s style, making your communication more effective and reducing friction.
| Duration | 2 Days (12 Hours) |
|---|---|
| Modules | 6 Modules |
| Course type | SoftSkills |
| Category | SoftSkills |
| Prerequisites | Experience Working in a Team or Reporting to a Supervisor, Openness to Self-Reflection and Emotional Intelligence Concepts |
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