Underpromise and overdeliver. This advice is contained in a chapter on keeping your word. Develop effective, mutually beneficial relationships with people outside your own department and chain of command. The goal is not to be able to go around your boss, explain the authors, but to have good role models, emotional support and a safe haven to discuss certain issues and concerns you might feel are inappropriate to bring to your boss such as problems you re having with your boss. Limit the great ideas and sell them effectively.
Some people believe that managing up means impressing the boss with lots of new ideas.
First, the authors warn, the boss is especially interested in having the department or task accomplished with problems. Great new ideas for the future are secondary. The authors also warn that trying to sell too many ideas is less credible than limiting them to a few. Add more ideas after you ve achieved success with the first ones, the authors suggest. These and many more thoughtful suggestions pack this unpretentious but valuable book.