This comprehensive one-day course empowers professionals to transform their relationship with their manager from a passive reporting line into a strategic partnership. Participants will explore the psychology of fear, master the business case for upward management, and develop deep empathy for their manager's pressures. Through practical frameworks, participants will learn to adapt communication styles, deliver difficult news with confidence, challenge decisions professionally, and align their personal goals with organisational strategy to drive mutual success.
Are you tired of feeling like a passive order taker to your manager? Imagine transforming that dynamic into a powerful strategic partnership. This one day course, Managing Upwards, gives you the confidence to influence decisions, deliver difficult news with grace, and align your goals with your organisation's vision. You will learn to navigate the psychology of fear and turn your manager's pressures into shared opportunities for success. Whether you choose an open course, a closed group session, or one to one coaching, you will leave with practical tools to drive mutual results. Plus, you will earn six CPD hours towards your professional development. Stop just reporting and start leading from where you are. To find out more, contact us at lets talk at e q v dot co dot uk.
Counts towards 6 CPD Hours1 Day9:00 - 5:00 for GroupsOpen Public & Closed Group
Please reflect on one or more of the questions below and come prepared to discuss your responses during the session.
Self-Assessment: On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your current skill level in this subject? What factors influenced your rating?
Development Focus: Identify one specific behaviour, skill, or capability you would like to improve or develop further.
Relevant Examples: If possible, bring one or two relevant examples or scenarios from your experience that you would be willing to share with the group.
What You Will Learn
Analyse the psychological barriers and fears that prevent effective upward management
Articulate the business case and ROI of managing upwards for the organisation
Apply the 8 principles of upward management to daily interactions and workflows
Map and address your manager's specific pressures, goals, and fears using empathy techniques
Adapt communication styles to match diverse manager archetypes including complex hybrids
Deliver difficult news and professional challenges using credible, solution-focused frameworks
Challenge authority and process professionally without fear of retribution
Align personal targets and daily work directly with your manager's strategic objectives
Your Post-Course Challenge
Within 7 days, schedule a 15-minute meeting with your manager to discuss one strategic goal of theirs.
Identify one task you can take off their plate to free up their time for that goal.
Apply the 'Context-Content-Connection' model in your next project update to them.
Counts Towards 6 CPD Hours
This course contributes 6 hours of Continuing Professional Development. Delegates can log these hours as evidence of structured learning for professional bodies and employers.
This transformative course is designed for ambitious professionals across all sectors who recognise that their career trajectory is deeply influenced by the quality of their relationship with their line manager. Whether you are looking to navigate a new reporting line, overcome communication barriers, or simply wish to evolve from a passive reporter into a proactive strategic partner, this programme provides the essential mindset and tools to thrive. It is particularly relevant for those who feel their potential is being stifled by misalignment, fear of speaking up, or a lack of visibility within the wider organisation.
This course is ideal for:
Early-career professionals who are eager to establish a strong foundation of trust and influence with their manager from the outset of their tenure.
Team leaders and supervisors who find themselves struggling to balance their own team's needs while effectively managing upward to secure resources and support.
Individual contributors who feel their ideas are consistently overlooked and wish to learn how to present their value in a way that aligns with strategic priorities.
Senior managers looking to refine their approach to executive stakeholders, ensuring their reporting is concise, impactful, and solution-focused.
Professionals in complex matrix organisations who must navigate ambiguous reporting lines and manage upwards across multiple departments simultaneously.
High-performers who have mastered their technical role but now seek to master the political and psychological nuances of influencing their leadership.
Anyone feeling stuck in a passive dynamic who desires the confidence to challenge decisions, deliver difficult news, and drive mutual success without fear of retribution.
No prior experience needed
This course is accessible to delegates at any stage of their professional journey. While the concepts are advanced, the content is structured to be equally valuable for those new to the concept of managing upwards as it is for seasoned executives. We focus on universal principles of human psychology and business strategy that apply regardless of your industry or seniority, ensuring every participant leaves with actionable insights tailored to their specific context.
What you will take away
Delegates will leave the day with a renewed sense of confidence and a clear, personalised strategy for transforming their working relationship with their manager. You will gain the ability to anticipate your manager's needs, communicate with greater clarity and impact, and navigate difficult conversations with poise. Ultimately, you will possess the tools to align your personal objectives with your organisation's goals, turning your role into a dynamic partnership that drives tangible business results and accelerates your career progression.
For Groups & Teams
We can deliver this training session in several ways to suit your organisation’s needs:
Open Public Course
Join delegates from other organisations on a scheduled date
Closed Group
Exclusively for your team, using your real scenarios
In Person
Face-to-face at your premises or a venue of your choice
Virtual
Live, interactive online delivery via Teams or Zoom
One-to-One Coaching
Personalised sessions tailored entirely to you
Have two or more people to train?
You may want to consider a closed group course. Benefits include:
Cost effective for teams
Choose a date to suit you
Customise content and timings
No minimum delegate numbers
Uses your real-world scenarios
Builds shared language in your team
Contact us on [email protected] to discuss specific dates and delivery requirements.
How Our Tutor-Led Courses Are Delivered
Before the day
Delegates are given pre-work to complete before attending. This ensures everyone arrives with relevant context and real scenarios from their own experience, so learning is immediately relevant and actionable from the first minute.
On the day
Our sessions are participative and highly interactive. We don’t do “death by PowerPoint” — instead, the day includes a variety of engaging activities throughout:
Real-world casework using your scenarios
Practical hands-on exercises
Real Play (not role play) simulations
Peer learning and group discussion
Case studies and scenario work
Facilitated discussion and structured reflection
What you leave with
Participants leave with:
Practical tools — frameworks and models you can use straight away
Clear action plans — specific next steps tailored to your role
Greater confidence — built through intensive, realistic practice
Skills you can apply immediately — not theory, but techniques tested during the day
After the day
Post-session measurements and a 30-day challenge ensure that learning is embedded and behaviour change is sustained.
Key Features
Course Duration is 1 Day
Engaging tutor led event
Comprehensive course materials
Certificates of attendance
Access to Customer Portal (course bookers)
Course Guarantee
Priced per delegate per day for open public course
£449.00 Plus VAT
Can’t see a suitable date? Please request a date here
Payment available via all major credit cards or Invoice. All options available during the online booking process.
