# Managing Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [March 16, 2024, 11:23am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817 "2024-03-16T11:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 11:23am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/1 "2024-03-16T11:23:41Z")
I’ve been following this thread: [What are some of the signs it’s time to move on from a company?](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-signs-its-time-to-move-on-from-a-company/68814) - it’s sounding a bit grim. What about managing up? Meaning effectively communicating with higher-ups to align objectives. If there’s an issue with managers in the office not understanding and not responding appropriately to shipboard problems isn’t that the best or only alternative to leaving for another company? Not saying it’s a cure-all but seems like, at the margin, that’s going to be the best alternative available. ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 12:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/2 "2024-03-16T12:11:00Z")
The best way I can describe it is where once there were peers, now there are those ashore and those afloat with a literal and figurative gulf between them. By this I mostly mean in the senior officer ranks and senior management ranks. The commonality and cohesiveness has evaporated and you are being given questionable directives, thinly veiled threats, and clear evidence that money is being saved by not putting it back into the vessel. Before I get pounced on, yes I know this has been the case in many places for many years. It has just finally made its way to me personally and really hit home in the past few years. You feel like less of an asset and more of a pain in their ass, but you are doing the job the same way you always have. Not a great situation. ---
**Author:** ![Tugboater203](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/tugboater203/32/14108_2.png) [@Tugboater203](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugboater203)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/3 "2024-03-16T15:21:26Z")
Your last paragraph is spot on. We no longer are an asset to the company but an expense. ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/4 "2024-03-16T18:06:11Z")
According to our company there is no ‘Them and Us’. Easy for ‘Them’ to say. ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/5 "2024-03-16T22:05:45Z")
I try to manage up all the time at most places that I work, but some companies are difficult to help. Another way to put it, I know it’s time to leave when I am no longer being respected and listened to. ---
**Author:** ![ocnslr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/54ee81/32.png) [@ocnslr](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ocnslr)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/managing-up/68817/7 "2024-03-17T03:40:57Z")
> [@Kennebec\_Captain](#): > > What about managing up? Meaning effectively communicating with higher-ups to align objectives Four and five decades ago when I was in the USN we referred to it as steering from astern.