As a tech manager, the pressure often isn’t just about leading your engineering teamit’s also about managing the relationship upward with your own manager and executives. This “managing up” dynamic is essential for securing resources, shaping strategic decisions, and safeguarding your team’s wellbeing. Yet, many first-time managers overlook this crucial skill, focusing exclusively downward within their teams.

Why Managing Upward Matters for Engineering Leaders

Effective upward management means influencing individuals who hold more power in the organizational hierarchy without relying on formal authority. For technical managers, this skill translates to:

• Advocating: Ensuring your teams needs and challenges are understood and addressed.
• Navigating Priorities: Aligning engineering efforts with rapidly shifting business goals from leadership.
• Building Trust: Cultivating credibility through transparent and proactive communication.

Without these, managers risk their teams being misunderstood or overburdened by unrealistic expectations, which can harm morale and productivity.

Building Influence Without Formal Authority

Influence in upward relationships is less about command and more about strategic relationship-building. Heres how to establish it:

1. Understand Your Managers Priorities

Before engaging in dialogue, invest time in understanding your managers goals, pressures, and communication style. This will help tailor your messaging and anticipate concerns.

2. Frame Discussions in Business Terms

Translate technical topics into outcomes that leadership cares about. Instead of focusing on code details, emphasize how technical decisions impact customer experience, risk, or time to market.

3. Be Data-Driven and Solution-Oriented

Bring facts, metrics, and well-thought-out proposals to discussions. This positions you not just as a problem identifier but as a proactive leader aligned with company success.

4. Develop Consistent Communication Channels

Regular updates, quick summaries after major milestones, or pre-meeting notes can help maintain transparency and avoid surprises. Consistency builds reliability in the eyes of leadership.

5. Practice Empathy and Patience

Remember, your manager operates under many pressures. Approaching conversations with respect and understanding helps keep interactions collaborative rather than adversarial.

Strategically Escalating Issues Without Burning Bridges

Escalation can be intimidating but often is necessary when your team faces roadblocks or unrealistic expectations. Follow these principles:

• Raise Issues Early: Dont wait for crises; flag risks and resource constraints promptly.
• Present Context: Clearly explain impacts and possible solutions, not just problems.
• Seek Collaborative Solutions: Frame escalation as a request for partnership in overcoming challenges.
• Respect Chain of Command: Avoid bypassing direct reports unless necessary to preserve trust.

Protecting Your Team From Unreasonable Demands

Tech leads often act as buffers, insulating engineers from stress and overcommitment. To do this effectively upward:

• Push Back With Diplomacy: Use data and realistic timelines to negotiate scope or deadlines.
• Highlight Team Capacity and Morale: Explain how overload affects quality and burnout to justify adjustments.
• Propose Alternatives: Suggest phased releases or prioritization to meet business needs sustainably.

Tips to Build Your Credibility as a Manager

• Deliver Consistently: Meet commitments and report progress honestly.
• Stay Solution-Focused: Own problems but always accompany them with ideas to move forward.
• Invest in Your Leadership Skills: Training in communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management pays dividends in upward influencing.

Resources to Strengthen Upward Management Skills

• Books: “Managing Up” by Mary Abbajay offers actionable strategies for navigating leadership relationships.
• Courses: LinkedIn Learning and Coursera provide programs focused on stakeholder engagement and influence without authority.
• Tools: Use clear documentation platforms like Notion or Confluence to keep leadership informed and involved.

Mastering upward management empowers tech managers to act as true advocates and strategic partners. By aligning your teams work with leadership expectations and effectively communicating challenges and wins, you can create a healthier environment for your engineers to thrive and deliver impactful results.