“Leading up” is the practice of taking intentional, proactive steps to build a professional relationship with your boss in which you can positively influence their leadership. It is not about manipulation or undermining authority. Instead, it is about creating a partnership that benefits you, your boss and the organization. By anticipating needs, communicating effectively and demonstrating initiative, you can help your leader excel while advancing your own career.

Here are six key strategies for successfully leading up, each designed to help you develop trust, strengthen collaboration, and become an indispensable member of your team.

1. Take initiative but seek clarity.

A hallmark of effective upward leadership is the ability to start projects without waiting for every instruction. When you see the first steps of a task that clearly need attention –gathering data, drafting a plan or outlining a proposal – take them. This shows that you are a self-starter who is always one step ahead.

However, initiative must be balanced with clear communication. Before moving too far ahead, get clarity on expectations. Ask questions such as, “How much autonomy do I have on this task?” or “Would you like updates at specific milestones?” This ensures you understand the scope of your authority and prevents misunderstandings. Over time, your boss will recognize you as someone who can be trusted to move work forward confidently while respecting boundaries.

2. Learn how your boss adds value and feels appreciated.

Every leader has unique ways of connecting with people and adding value – through mentoring, giving thoughtful gifts, sharing words of affirmation or spending quality time with their team. Pay attention to these preferences. Does your boss light up when recognizing staff accomplishments in meetings? Do they prefer written praise or casual, face-to-face conversations?

By noticing these patterns, you can align yourself with their style, almost as if you are working in sync as one unit. When you share their enthusiasm for their chosen methods of appreciation, you reinforce the positive culture they are trying to build. Equally important is understanding what makes your boss feel valued. Maybe they appreciate a handwritten note of thanks after a challenging quarter, or perhaps they feel respected when team members arrive well prepared for meetings. Demonstrating appreciation in the ways that matter to them strengthens mutual respect and sets a tone others can follow.

3. Ask permission to provide constructive feedback.

Part of leading up is offering insights that can help your boss lead more effectively. Because this involves stepping into their world, always ask permission first. A simple request such as, “Would you be open to some feedback that might support our team’s goals?” shows respect for their role and opens the door for honest dialogue.

Constructive feedback should be specific, solution-oriented, and shared at the right time. Perhaps you notice a recurring scheduling conflict that affects team productivity, or you see an opportunity for clearer communication during project rollouts. Present your observations with tact and a focus on improvement. Similarly, when it comes to your own performance evaluation, ask if you can provide input about how you work best. Sharing how you thrive under certain leadership styles helps your boss support you more effectively and ensures you meet their expectations.

4. Help your boss stay on mission.

Leaders juggle countless responsibilities and can occasionally veer off course. One powerful way to lead up is to serve as a gentle compass, helping your boss stay focused on mission, tasks and deadlines. This might mean sending a reminder about an upcoming grant proposal, summarizing key action items after a meeting, or tactfully asking, “Would it help to revisit our main priorities for this quarter?”

These small interventions demonstrate that you care about the larger goals and are invested in the organization’s success. Over time, your thoughtful nudges will make you indispensable – a trusted partner who helps the team stay aligned with its objectives.

5. Bring solutions alongside problems.

Problems are inevitable, but how you present them makes all the difference. Instead of dropping an issue on your boss’s desk, come prepared with possible solutions. For example, if a supplier is behind schedule, you might say, “We’re facing a delay with the shipment, but I’ve identified two alternate vendors who can meet our timeline.”

Even if your suggestions aren’t adopted, your initiative in the first steps of problem-solving signals that you are proactive and resourceful. This approach prevents you from gaining a reputation as Chicken Little, always sounding alarms without offering help. To excel here, commit to continuous learning so you can propose informed, well-reasoned options whenever challenges arise.

6. Be dependable and follow through.

Dependability is the cornerstone of trust. Leading up begins with initiative and ends with consistent follow-through. Whether it’s meeting deadlines, keeping promises or owning mistakes, reliability sets you apart as a go-to team member. When your boss knows you can be counted on – especially when situations become unpredictable – you become a stabilizing force for the entire organization.

Excellent follow-through also reinforces every other strategy on this list. Your feedback gains credibility when you consistently deliver results. Your solutions carry weight because your track record proves you can execute them. Dependability turns you into a colleague your boss can trust in any circumstance.

Leading up is not about flattery or trying to control your manager. It is about partnership and mutual growth. When you take the initiative, align with your boss’s values, offer constructive feedback, keep projects on track, present solutions and follow through, you create a working relationship that benefits everyone involved.

Paul D. Casey lives in the Tri-Cities and is the owner of Growing Forward Services, which aims to equip and coach leaders and teams to spark breakthrough success.