Managing Upwards – A Leadership Blindspot

One of the most fulfilling aspects of leadership for me has been setting a compelling vision, aligning a cross-functional team around it, and then rolling up our sleeves to deliver. I love the process of building shared purpose - through team sessions, 1:1s, and day-to-day collaboration - transforming ideas into results that matter.

But if I'm honest, there's been a blind spot in my leadership journey: managing upwards.

I’ve always believed that strong delivery should speak for itself. That if the results were there -quality outcomes, engaged teams, business impact - then leaders above me would naturally see and understand the value.

What I’ve learned is: that’s not always the case.

Translating the team’s vision, progress, and outcomes in a way that resonates with senior stakeholders isn’t just “politics” - it’s leadership. And by under-investing in this, I’ve sometimes left value on the table. Value in terms of visibility, influence, support, and strategic alignment.

It’s something I’ve been reflecting on and working to improve.

For those who lead from the middle - driving delivery while connecting vision to reality - don’t forget the importance of bringing leadership along for the ride. Not just at the end, but throughout.

Results matter. But so does storytelling.

#productddevelopment #NPD #innovation #consumerproduct   #leadership

James@Holo