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MANAGING UP

Melody Wilding

How to Get What You need from the People in Charge

An indispensable guide to navigating power dynamics, building effective relationships with higher-ups, and earning more authority, freedom, and confidence at workfrom one of today's "most innovative career coaches" (Insider).
Do you feel vulnerable to the whims of your boss, peers, or internal politics, pushing through each day with a nagging undercurrent of anxiety? Maybe you're micromanaged, interrupted in meetings, saddled with busy work, or overlooked for career opportunities. But what if you could subtly teach those above you to value your ideas and treat you with respectwithout ever changing your job title?

Human behavior professor and award-winning executive career coach Melody Wilding has helped thousands of clients advocate for their needs at work while navigating the minefield of office politics. In this clear, tactical guide, Wilding shows you how to operate from a position of powereven if you lack formal authorityto build the emotional intelligence, relational capital, and negotiation savvy to succeed in a world of competing stakeholders and remote work.

Drawing on real-life client stories and the latest research on trust and persuasion, Managing Up distills a vital skillset into ten key conversations, including:

The Alignment Conversation: How can I get in my boss's head to understand their needs, motivations, and goals?
The Styles Conversation: Will I earn more respect from my manager if I get to the point quickly, or should I try swapping stories and building rapport?
The Boundaries Conversation: How do I say no and push back with tact when my manager saddles me with yet another task?

Packed with time-tested strategies, detailed scripts, and transformative insights, this book is a must-read for professionals of all levels ready to reclaim control of their careers.

Melody Wilding is a professor of human behavior at Hunter College and was recently named one of Insider's "most innovative career coaches." Her background as a therapist and emotions researcher informs her unique approach, weaving evidence-based neuroscience and psychology with professional development. She is the author of Trust Yourself, is a weekly contributor to the Harvard Business Review, where her articles frequently top the "Most Popular" list. Her work has also been featured in NYT, WSJ, Time, The Washington Post, Oprah Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Time, The Economist, Fast Company, Insider, and Forbes to name a few. She gives 5-10 talks and workshops per month at organizations like Amazon, Salesforces, Discover, Chevron, Conde Nast, Hasbro, Adweek, Stanford, Columbia, and NYU. https://melodywilding.com/
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Published 2025-03-04 by Crown Currency

Comments

A masterclass in the most critical soft skill for career success. Wilding delivers a refreshingly modern, easy-to-follow instruction manual for navigating workplace dynamics with integrity and emotional intelligence.

Finally, a science-based book that reveals how to influence others regardless of where you sit on the org. chart. It's a resource you'll return to again and again!

A book chock-full of practical advice.

In this sophisticated yet accessible guide, Wilding transforms what most of us learn through painful trial and error into a clear, research-backed blueprint for taking control of our professional future. She masterfully explains how to thoughtfully navigate those difficult conversations that often define our career trajectory, and turn what can be an anxiety-ridden, transactional relationship with our boss into a true partnership.

Wilding has accomplished something rare and invaluable, combining bigger-picture insight with concrete, practical advice to experiment with.

Complex Chinese: Sun Color Culture; Simplified Chinese: CITIC; UK/BC: Transworld ; Spanish: PRHGE

Managing up is not just a book about navigating relationships in the workplace, though it certainly is thatit's a call to arms to reclaim autonomy in your career. Whether you're just joining the workforce or a seasoned manager, there's something in this practical, empowering, and deeply-human book for you.

Outstanding. Wilding's scripts and strategies show us a better way to get ahead at work.

If you struggle to figure out where you stand in the workplace, you need this book . . . to take back your power and advocate for yourself with confidence.

Managing Up offers a new lens through which to view workplace relationships, turning potential conflicts into opportunities for growth. With real-world examples and clear frameworks, this book helps you decode your boss's behavior and unlock the career success you deserve.

Expertly managing up is an essential skill that everyone needs to learn. Whether you are at the start of your career or have just stepped into a leadership position, Wilding is the perfect mentor for teaching you how to leverage your manager.