EP 111. How to Manage Up: What to Do When Your Boss Isn’t a Great Leader

Sometimes you’re doing everything you can to be a great manager - but your own boss is dropping the ball. That’s when you need to learn the skill of managing up. Done well, it keeps your career moving forward and helps you maintain respect without overstepping.In this episode, I share:- How to understand your manager’s communication, decision-making, and work style- Why taking the lead (without doing their job) can transform your experience- The shift from asking for permission to driving outcomes- How to influence strategically and get buy-in faster- Why sometimes you need to accept the limitation and know when it’s time to move onManaging up isn’t about covering for a bad boss - it’s about protecting your growth, building influence, and making sure you don’t get stuck waiting for leadership that may never come. This episode gives you the tools to handle it with confidence.What did you think of the episode? Was it helpful or is there anything else you want me to cover? Send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn - I would love to hear from you!Links and Resources Mentioned:Strategic Thinking and Decision Making Masterclass - Tired of hearing “you need to be more strategic” without anyone showing you how the hell to do that? Get ready to build the strategic thinking and decision making skills that’ll actually move your career forward - without the fluff. Get the masterclass here. V.I.P Leaders leadership program Interest List - the signature program that helps you strengthen your leadership identity, build trusted influence, and level up your emotional intelligence to become a leader people actually want to follow. The next round starts in March 2026. Join the interest list here. Are we connected? If not, connect here:Website: tashpieterse.com Instagram: @tash_pieterseLinkedIn: tashpieterseAre you enjoying the Lead With Less podcast? You can leave a review on Apple or Spotify, or submit a question in the Q&A section on Spotify and we’ll get back to you!