Chris Festog, the Senior Executive Vice President and Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of Mutual of America Financial Group, believes that professionals need to transition from being told what to do to taking the initiative and owning their work. This shift is crucial for career and leadership growth, as is the ability to effectively manage their boss for success. An exceptional CFO understands the importance of managing up and cultivates a team that excels in this skill, providing growth opportunities while efficiently utilizing leadership time and resources.
To master managing up, individuals must first become experts in their job. Understanding the business processes, technology, and financial analysis related to their tasks is essential. Once this knowledge is achieved, they can focus on building reporting and metrics to effectively communicate the business performance. Building a team that understands these processes is critical for a finance team to succeed.
Understanding leaders within an organization is also crucial for professional growth. It is important to bridge the gap between what is known and analyzed at different levels and effectively communicate insights to help the business move forward. Each leader has unique strengths and weaknesses, and team members must learn how best to interact with them to demonstrate their value and contribute to the team’s success.
Festog emphasizes the importance of managing up and advises emerging managers and leaders to take the initiative in the relationship. Leaders are often pressed for time, so being prepared, concise, and solution-oriented in communication is key. Understanding how your boss prefers to receive information, the level of detail they require, and how they make decisions will lead to more effective interactions and efficient use of time.
Tailoring reporting and communication to meet the unique requirements of your boss will create efficiencies and lead to successful interactions. By understanding how your boss analyzes information, makes decisions, and monitors business performance, you can build trust and opportunities for growth. This alignment will result in greater appreciation from your boss and increased opportunities for advancement within the organization.
In conclusion, mastering the skill of managing up is essential for professional development and success in any organization. By becoming an expert in your job, understanding your leaders, and learning how to effectively communicate and align with your boss’s preferences, you can position yourself for career growth and success. This approach creates efficiencies, saves time, and builds trust within the organization, ultimately leading to greater opportunities for advancement.
