Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership, an ongoing series of executive

coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the way you

want to be perceived. I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach,

and today we're talking about managing up.

Barbara's coaching had barely begun

when she was promoted to Senior Vice President.

Because she had worked in many divisions of her Global Packaged Goods Company

and had always been viewed as a high performer,

her promotion had really only been a matter of time.

The company's goal for her coaching was for her to manage up more effectively, a skill that would

serve her no matter what her position.

When she and I discussed what she wanted out of the coaching, managing up was on her mind too.

I want your help being more political, she told me, but before that, I want to be ready to manage the guy who's going to be my

new boss.

I've heard a lot about him, but I don't really know him.

What should I be thinking about managing up to a new boss?

Well, how have you managed in the past? I asked her.

She laughed.

I don't want to be guided by what I've done before.

If I were any good at it, I wouldn't need coaching.

I left, too, and then asked, asked well what about your team Barbara who's

managing you well right now? Without hesitation she said Indra she is one of my

...