Managing Your Boss Remotely

Tips & tricks to get you through the digital transition.

Congratulations! You’ve figured out how to manage and motivate your team while everyone is working from home. You can relax for awhile, right?

Not quite.

It’s just as important to put your attention in other directions – and in particular think about managing your (now remote) boss.

“Managing Up”, as its known, is an important skill. You’ll be more likely to meet performance goals, get considered for new assignments, and obtain regular feedback when you have a well-developed strategy for handling your relationship with your boss.

Here’s some questions to get the process started.

1-Has your manager’s job changed as a result of the pandemic?

If your boss has new responsibilities, or has taken on additional challenges, that’s important to know. This helps you determine the relative importance of your projects in the overall scheme of your company’s priorities. 

The person above you in the hierarchy is typically responsible for your work. How do your responsibilities help your supervisor – and your department – succeed? When you do a good job (or miss the mark), what’s the impact? Your goal is to know enough about your manager’s job description that you understand when and how she’s most likely to rely on you. Ideally, you’ll be able to align your own work priorities so you’re focusing tasks that both of you find most important.

Many job descriptions have shifted as a result of the pandemic. Sometimes people have taken on new tasks and roles without any formal recognition. If you know what new responsibilities have fallen into your manager’s lap, you’ll be better positioned to offer valuable assistance.

2-How does your boss like to be communicated with?

People hear and process information better when they receive it in the style they prefer. So if your manager is visual, make sure to present ideas in writing before a meeting. Send agendas ahead of time whenever you can. On the other hand, someone who prefers to think out loud and generate ideas verbally will appreciate you scheduling time for a live Zoom meeting. You can still use an agenda to keep things on track, but it becomes more important to capture elements of the live conversation for future follow-up.

Also, remember that remote meetings are more productive when they can address multiple issues. It may be tempting to request a lot of “face time” with your boss during the pandemic, but this isn’t always efficient. Instead, think about how you can combine topics and make the best use of everyone’s time.

3-Can your boss access your schedule?

This is particularly important if your boss can’t physically see you hard at work. If its possible, use a public calendar and make sure your appointments – and the time you’re working on important projects – are easy to spot. Find a way to (subtly!) share your ongoing/completed tasks and appointments. 

4-Do you present possible solutions with every problem?

If you want to prove that you’re ready to succeed at higher levels in the company, be known as a problem solver. Rather than simply sending problems to your boss to solve, include a proposed solution to your dilemma. Over time, your manager will come to respect and appreciate your ability to resolve issues.

Remote work requires us to strengthen new skills. We have to be more self-driven and productive and communicate more often (and more clearly) than ever. As you hone these skills with your team, be sure to also demonstrate those new skills strategically to your supervisor.