Course

Managing Up Training

Develop the skills to build stronger relationships with your manager, communicate more effectively, and increase your influence by understanding priorities, expectations, and ways of working.

Teams from £1,850 / $2,960 UK|EMEA / USA
Team enquiry
Individuals from £14.99 UK|EMEA
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Pathways:

  1. INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR
Managing Up Training
Communication Skills
Trustpilot

Course outcomes

  • By the end of the Managing Up course, participants will be able to build stronger working relationships with their manager, communicate more effectively, and contribute with greater confidence
  • They will be able to use AI to prepare concise, well-structured updates and arrive better prepared for conversations.
  • They will understand how to share ideas constructively, manage expectations, and develop a proactive approach that supports both personal and organisational success.

Who is this course for?

Managing Up Training enables people to feel more empowered when dealing with senior authority, allowing them to build a more effective working relationship with their manager and senior leaders. It is particularly valuable for anyone seeking greater influence, clearer communication, and more opportunities to contribute, develop, and succeed at work.

Delivery options

Group size: Workshops, from 2-hour sessions to full-day, for small (up to 12), medium (up to 25), or large groups up to 50. High-impact keynote sessions of up to 90 minutes, for audiences from 51 to 200+ participants.

Measurement: We monitor progress to levels 1 and 2 of the Kirkpatrick model, and can support your internal monitoring through to levels 3 and 4. We have the capacity to use milestone charts, post-training action programmes, and coaching.

Course content

Understanding your boss

Discovering your manager’s priorities, working style, values, and experience while using authentic, curious questioning techniques.

The groundwork

Understanding the wider context, establishing ground rules, clarifying priorities and identifying what works best.

Building the relationship

Being specific, sharing ideas confidently, and recognising common pitfalls to avoid.

Be the solution

Building on your manager’s strengths, avoiding unnecessary overload, and developing your network for support and ideas.

Making it work

Amplifying the great work of others, broadening your understanding of leadership, and maintaining a positive, proactive attitude.

AI integration

Use AI to prepare for a conversation with your manager: drafting talking points, anticipating likely questions, or summarising a complex update concisely before delivering it.

Learning routes

Choose your learning route

For individuals

Individual learners

Individual learner access is handled through LearnFlix.

UK|EMEA from £14.99
View individual learning
For teams

Teams and organisations

Talk to Working Voices about team training for your organisation.

UK|EMEA / USA from £1,850 / $2,960

Frequently asked questions

Is managing up training suitable for individual contributors and entry-level staff, or just middle managers?

Managing up is valuable at every stage of a career, not just for managers. Anyone who works with a line manager or senior leader can benefit from understanding priorities, improving communication, and building stronger working relationships. Developing these skills early often leads to greater confidence, visibility, and career progression.

How can employees learn to give upward feedback and set boundaries with senior leadership effectively?

Effective upward communication relies on trust, preparation, and mutual respect. Managing up training helps participants express ideas clearly, give constructive feedback, understand leadership priorities, and set realistic boundaries in a professional way. The result is more open communication and stronger working relationships.

Which core skills and competencies are covered in a managing up training curriculum?

Managing up programmes typically cover understanding leadership styles, building productive relationships, communicating effectively, managing expectations, and sharing ideas with confidence. Participants also learn how to clarify priorities, influence positively, navigate workplace dynamics, and contribute proactively to organisational success.

I interact a lot with my manager’s AI assistant. What should I do?

It may be worth discussing with your manager how AI is being used. Ahead of the conversation, AI can help you prepare thoughts and anticipate likely questions, nevertheless important conversations should remain personal and unscripted.

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