Framework: Managing Up with Synthesized Transparency
A social media thread on managing up emphasizes providing synthesized transparency rather than raw data dumps to senior leaders. The advice suggests that engineering managers should adapt to their boss's communication style and build trust through reliable commitments. This approach is key for gaining visibility and demonstrating executive potential.
- A suggested framework for presenting engineering projects to executives follows a 5-part story structure: Problem, Insight/Recommendation, Solution, Impact, and Next Steps. This narrative approach is designed to resonate with an audience that is focused on ROI, risk mitigation, and the big-picture. - When communicating with senior leadership, it's crucial to adapt to their preferred method of consuming information; this may be through structured documents, which force comprehensive thought, or other specific formats they are used to. The goal is to extract as much of their perspective as possible to align with their priorities. - For executive-level presentations on technical topics, it is advised to keep the presentation under 15 minutes to allow ample time for discussion and questions. This demonstrates a respect for their time and focuses on providing just enough detail for them to make informed decisions. - The transition from engineering manager to director requires a significant mindset shift from focusing on technical execution to empowering and developing other managers. Key skills to develop include business writing and learning to communicate effectively with a broader range of non-technical stakeholders. - Proactive and frequent communication on project status, risks, and blockers is essential for managing up, as surprises are highly disliked by managers. It's better to be upfront at the first sign of a deviation from the plan. - A key to managing up is to understand what signals your manager uses to build trust, whether it's peer validation, metrics, or another mechanism, and then tap into those signals. - The concept of transparency in an engineering context can be multifaceted; for some, it's about access to data for better decision-making, while for others, it's about being involved in the decision-making process itself. - To increase your own visibility and effectiveness, aim to understand about 90% of your manager's context by reviewing meeting notes, recordings, or asking for regular readouts. This helps in understanding broader priorities and making better-aligned decisions.
