How to turn your boss into a Genuine Career Ally

Most people have a manager. Some even have great ones. But what if you could take more ownership of the relationship — and turn your boss into a genuine career ally?

This short One Simple Thing episode explores one powerful mindset shift that could change everything. 

Part of a series on how to be brilliant at the basics of leadership.

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Transcript

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Welcome And Format

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Welcome to Leading People with me, Jerry Murray. This week it's One Simple Thing, where in each episode I share a quick, actionable tip to help you bring out the best in yourself and others. One simple thing is created for young leaders. But hey, us older folks can still learn a thing or two. Ask my dog, he's learned a few new tricks recently. Here's a question

The Best And Worst Boss Contrast

SPEAKER_00 0:36

for you. Have you ever had a boss who brought out the best in you? You trusted them. You clicked. You got more done together than you ever could alone. Even their feedback when things didn't go so well felt constructive. It helped you grow. Now contrast that with a boss who left you feeling anxious, drained, or demoralized. A boss who took credit, gave blame, micromanaged, set you up to fail, or simply didn't seem to care. If you've experienced both, then you already know something very powerful. Your boss can be the best thing or the worst thing in your working life.

Why Managing Up Matters

SPEAKER_00 1:20

And here's the reality. Most of us have a boss. Even leaders, even senior leaders. Unless you're the CEO. And even then you probably got a board or investors to answer to. So how do you get the best out of that relationship? Do you wait for them to manage you well? Or do you take ownership and learn to manage up strategically, ethically, and constructively? It turns out when you make your manager successful, it makes it easier for them to support your success. That means not just delivering results, but avoiding one of the most common traps.

Stop Bringing Monkeys

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Bringing them monkeys. Monkeys? A monkey is an unresolved problem that you hand off without clarity or context. It climbs off your back and onto theirs. But great team members learn to manage those monkeys better. They come with solutions, they communicate proactively, and they help their boss lead well.

One Simple Thing And Payoff

SPEAKER_00 2:27

So, here's one simple thing to remember. Managing your boss well helps you succeed. And yes, it takes effort, but the payoff can be huge. Are you making the most of that opportunity? If that sounds like a shift worth exploring, you might want to take it further.

Programs And Next Steps

SPEAKER_00 2:56

Our Team Leader Essentials and Accelerating Performance programs are designed to help leaders just like you bring out the best in yourself and others. And in fact, Team Leader Essentials includes an entire module on how to work effectively with your own manager so that you can take ownership of your success and avoid unnecessary career friction. Check out the link in the show notes. And that's another one simple thing. Thanks for tuning in. Remember, small steps can lead to big changes. Test out this one simple thing and notice how it transforms your day. Let me know how you get on. Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me. Mention the podcast. And if you'd like to learn more One Simple Things, then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn leading people. In our next episode of One Simple Thing, we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you. And in between, you can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about, yes, you've guessed it, leading people. So until then, keep exploring and stay curious.