When you develop your ability to “manage up,” you become a strategic leader—no matter your job title or where you sit in an organization.

Here’s the problem: most people have a vague understanding of what it means and why it's important.

When you manage up, you lead through influence—to impact decisions made by those with formal authority.

And in the future—when you have a position with formal authority—you won't be someone who just tells people what to do, you'll be someone that people want to follow.