Professional Skills: Managing Up Course

Editorial Take

Professional Skills: Managing Up, offered by Arizona State University through Coursera, addresses a subtle yet critical workplace competency—navigating upward relationships with supervisors and leadership. While often overlooked in traditional management training, 'managing up' is a cornerstone of career advancement and daily workplace effectiveness. This course, led by Dr. Elissa Adame of ASU’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, delivers a concise, accessible introduction to the principles of upward communication, trust-building, and professional influence. It’s designed for individuals who want to be heard, respected, and effective without overstepping organizational boundaries.

Standout Strengths

• Real-World Applicability: The course focuses on practical communication strategies that professionals can apply immediately in real workplace settings. Learners gain tools to articulate feedback respectfully and constructively to supervisors, a skill often missing in early-career training. These techniques are grounded in communication theory but presented with tangible examples.
• Expert Instruction: Dr. Elissa Adame brings credibility through her academic background in human communication and her experience teaching interpersonal dynamics. Her delivery is clear, calm, and authoritative, making complex social dynamics feel approachable. Her expertise ensures the content is both research-informed and practitioner-relevant.
• Focus on Collaboration Over Confrontation: Instead of encouraging assertiveness at all costs, the course emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and strategic timing. This nuanced approach helps learners avoid common pitfalls like appearing pushy or disrespectful. It reframes 'managing up' as relationship-building rather than manipulation.
• Accessible to Early-Career Professionals: The course assumes no prior management experience, making it ideal for those new to professional environments. Concepts are explained clearly, with relatable scenarios that reflect common workplace challenges. This lowers the barrier to entry for individuals still developing their professional voice.
• Flexible Learning Structure: Hosted on Coursera, the course supports self-paced learning with video lectures, readings, and reflection exercises. Learners can audit the content for free or pay for a certificate. The modular design allows busy professionals to engage in short bursts without falling behind.
• Emphasis on Emotional Intelligence: The course integrates emotional intelligence as a core component of managing up effectively. Learners explore self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation—skills that enhance not only upward communication but overall workplace presence. This holistic focus adds depth beyond simple 'tips and tricks.'

Honest Limitations

• Limited Practical Application: While the course introduces valuable concepts, it lacks immersive role-plays or personalized feedback mechanisms. Learners must self-apply strategies without guided practice, which may reduce retention. More interactive elements would strengthen skill transfer.
• Surface-Level Treatment of Power Dynamics: The course touches on hierarchy and influence but avoids deeper systemic issues like bias, organizational politics, or inequity. For learners in complex or toxic environments, the strategies may feel insufficient. A more critical lens could enhance relevance.
• Repetition Across Modules: Some themes, such as trust-building and timing, are reiterated frequently without significant progression. This can make the course feel stretched, especially for learners with prior experience. A tighter structure could improve pacing and engagement.
• Minimal Peer Interaction: Discussion forums exist but are not deeply integrated into the learning experience. Without structured peer feedback or group projects, learners miss opportunities to practice and refine their communication approaches in a safe environment.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Dedicate 2–3 hours per week over eight weeks to fully absorb content and complete reflections. Consistent pacing prevents burnout and allows time for real-world experimentation between modules.
• Parallel project: Apply concepts by identifying one real upward communication goal at work—such as requesting feedback or proposing an idea. Use course strategies to plan and execute the conversation intentionally.
• Note-taking: Journal key insights and personal reflections after each module. Documenting your evolving approach helps track growth and reinforces learning over time.
• Community: Engage in Coursera discussion boards to share experiences and learn from others. Even light participation can provide validation and new perspectives on managing up challenges.
• Practice: Role-play difficult conversations with a trusted colleague or mentor. Practicing tone, timing, and phrasing increases confidence before engaging with actual supervisors.
• Consistency: Revisit course materials periodically, especially before high-stakes interactions. Reinforcing core principles ensures long-term integration into professional behavior.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'Crucial Conversations' by Kerry Patterson—this expands on how to handle high-stakes discussions with clarity and respect, complementing the course’s focus on upward feedback.
• Tool: Use a communication journal or app like Reflectly to document interactions with leadership and track progress in applying course concepts.
• Follow-up: Consider enrolling in ASU’s broader Professional Skills specialization for a more comprehensive development path in workplace communication and collaboration.
• Reference: Harvard Business Review articles on managing up provide real-world case studies and advanced strategies that build on this course’s foundation.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Misinterpreting managing up as manipulation rather than mutual respect. The course clarifies this distinction, but learners must remain mindful of intent—focus on alignment, not control.
• Pitfall: Expecting immediate results from leadership. Even well-delivered feedback may take time to influence behavior. Patience and consistency are key to long-term success.
• Pitfall: Over-relying on course scripts without adapting to personal style. Authenticity matters—use frameworks as guides, not rigid templates, to maintain credibility.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: At approximately eight weeks with 2–3 hours per week, the time investment is manageable for working professionals. The modular format supports integration into busy schedules without overwhelming learners.
• Cost-to-value: While the full certificate requires payment, auditing is free. For those seeking formal recognition, the fee is reasonable given the niche skill set, though not essential for learning core content.
• Certificate: The Course Certificate adds value for LinkedIn or resumes, especially for early-career professionals building credibility. However, it lacks the weight of a full specialization or degree credential.
• Alternative: Free resources like HBR articles or YouTube lectures on communication can cover similar topics, but this course offers structured, expert-led learning with a clear progression—worth the cost for guided development.

Editorial Verdict

Professional Skills: Managing Up fills a quiet but critical gap in professional development—how to communicate effectively with those above you in the organizational hierarchy. Unlike leadership courses that focus on managing teams, this program addresses the often-overlooked skill of influencing supervisors through emotional intelligence, timing, and respectful dialogue. Dr. Elissa Adame’s instruction is clear and grounded in communication theory, making complex interpersonal dynamics feel accessible. The course is particularly valuable for early-career professionals who may feel disempowered or unsure how to advocate for themselves without seeming confrontational.

That said, the course is best viewed as an introduction rather than a deep dive. It delivers foundational knowledge with moderate interactivity and limited advanced strategies. Learners seeking intensive skill-building or conflict resolution techniques may need supplementary resources. Still, for its target audience and price point, it offers solid value. We recommend it to professionals aiming to build confidence in upward communication, especially those in collaborative or matrixed work environments. With intentional application, the principles taught can lead to more productive relationships, greater visibility, and faster career progression. While not revolutionary, it’s a practical, well-structured step toward professional maturity.