There are those that spend most of their time managing upwards; worrying about their bosses, what they are up to, what they think about them and how they can gain more authority and influence from them.  On the other hand, there are those that forget to manage up, focusing only downwards instead.  Neither is good and both are bad. Looking back over my long career, it amuses me to note in which circumstances I performed at my best and whether it was predominantly upwards or downwards. One thing I know for sure is that well connected upwardly aware managers tend to get the best out of the teams below them, partly, because their team can see that they have the ear of senior management and thus, most likely,  their voice is heard and trusted. The concept of upwards management is to do what is necessary to make sure that impacted people that are more senior to you are doing whatever they can to assist you and your team. In-essence, you are managing tasks, communications and strategies towards them that ensure their complete buy-in to your approach.  This is not to be confused with covering for an incompetent boss! In change management we talk about ‘stakeholder management’ and nowhere is it implied that our stakeholders are somehow limited to those we have authority over. Therefore, stakeholder management takes place when you guide people into certain mindsets, actions or decision processes. And that is equally true both upwards or downwards.  You just need to make sure you have both directions covered and are deploying the correct tactics, communication styles and strategies for the direction in which you are looking at anyone time. Keep safe, keep smiling, keep positive!   Harley