Managing Up and Across
This is a practical session for leaders who get things done through people they do not manage. Their boss, their peers, and other teams hold much of what a leader needs, yet formal authority does not reach them. They leave able to manage up and sideways with less friction, and to build the kind of relationships that make the next ask easier.
✓ Created by former KPMG & McKinsey consultants
What You'll Achieve with the Managing Up and Across Workshop
Real outcomes that transform your team
Participants learn to identify key stakeholders and influence them effectively.
Leaders develop skills to manage upward and sideways relationships.
Improved ability to make clear, actionable requests that build trust.
When to Use the Managing Up and Across Workshop
Perfect for these situations and team challenges
When team leaders need to improve their influence without direct authority.
For new managers learning to navigate relationships with peers and superiors.
How the Managing Up and Across Workshop Works
A step-by-step breakdown of the workshop process
1Step 1: Check-in
Participants settle in by sharing where they feel blocked by someone they do not manage, allowing for a collective understanding of common challenges.
2Step 2: Influence without authority
Leaders reframe managing up and across as a useful practice, discussing the myths around influence and how to build trust and reciprocity.
3Step 3: Map your stakeholders
Leaders create a stakeholder map to visualize the landscape of influence around their work, identifying where to focus their efforts for maximum impact.
4Step 4: Find the real paths
Participants explore the actual influence dynamics beyond the org chart, sketching who influences the key individuals they need to engage with.
Key Topics Covered in the Managing Up and Across Workshop
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