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Upward Stakeholder Management

Your boss has little time, many concerns — use 4 principles to be a smart stakeholder.

45 min Intermediate

Goal

Break "avoid boss until forced" — proactive relationship making you asset.

Steps

1

1- Understand context: their top 3 quarterly priorities?

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Expected Outcome

Immediate

You find a boss priority you didn't know.

Evidence base

School: Managing Up

Founders: John Gabarro · John Kotter (1980)

Gabarro & Kotter (Harvard) — HBR 1980 "Managing Your Boss"; classic reference in upward management; re-issued by Press 2008.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Upward Stakeholder Management" take?

This exercise takes about 45 minutes, practiced solo in a Written reflection format.

When will I notice the effect of "Upward Stakeholder Management"?

You find a boss priority you didn't know. In the short term: In a quarter, you're among "trusted" — more flex on asks.

Is "Upward Stakeholder Management" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Managing Up (John Gabarro, John Kotter (1980)). Gabarro & Kotter (Harvard) — HBR 1980 "Managing Your Boss"; classic reference in upward management; re-issued by Press 2008.

Is "Upward Stakeholder Management" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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