Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship with Those Above You

...which explains her success as a partner with Jack Welch. Ro has hit the nail on the head here. It's not really about keeping his favorite yogurt on tap or catering to his needs, it's about removing the obstacles and the minutiae so that the leadership can lead instead of wasting time on those things that can be done by others. It's more about being a true partner than it is about being a sterotypical assistant. My take on this book is that although written by an assistant, it is applicable to anyone who has a boss and who wants to be a solution instead of just an employee. Many people take issue with being asked to handle things that they deem are "personal" for thier boss. That conversation is a waste of time and will be a deciding factor on how high you will go in your career. Make no mistake, for leaders of large organizations, there is no distinction between a personal and a work life. They are one. So, Ro really points out that being a solution for Jack sometimes meant that she had to make sure those "personal" things were managed to completion by someone other than Jack. That freed Jack up to take care of business. Pre-managing your boss is a great way to bring speed to the entire organization. Ro stated early on that she was a creator of time. That is one of the most powerful offers that one can make to their boss and their organization. Time is the most precious asset that many of us claim to not have enough of. By ensuring that Jack didn't have to sweat the small stuff and sift through unneccessary crap, she was able to create the time for Jack to become the leader he is and to bring more prosperity to the organization and the people who support it. Be it personal or business, she handled it. Observe also, that while many may think of Rosanne Badowski as just an assistant who wrote a book, she obviously has enough insight and leadership skills of her own to be the assistant of one of the most powerful CEO's for 14 years and...she wrote a book about it. I am also quite sure that she has enjoyed some prosperity as a result of her success with Jack.

This book was given to me as a gift from a co-worker after I received a big promotion. I work as an administrative assistant, or dare I say, Secretary. This book holds valuable tips, useful insight and helps to deliever a sense of pride to what some would call a prideless job. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to succeed in the business world, no matter what your position or station.

Managaging Up is the first book in long time that gives practical, meaningful advice for all those who are managing relationships at any level. How engaging to hear from an obviously key part of Jack Welch's success and support team , the "unsung hero", if you will, of this CEO's rise. I look forward to this author's future books with great anticipation.

"Managing Up" amounts to a practical and entertaining survival guide for those who find themselves somewhere on the food chain to the south of the lion kings of the corporate jungle. The author draws on her fifteen years as executive assistant to the legendary Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, to offer valuable insights, advice, and common sense perspective on what it takes to keep the boss happy, maximally productive, and hugely successful. Despite her admiration for Welch, Rosanne Badowski makes a compelling case for the vitally important role played by "support staff" in keeping business enterprises functioning smoothly. In fact, by the end of the book, it was clear to me that a considerable portion of the Jack Welch mystique was the product of the hard work, long hours and dedication that Badowski brought to the job. How do you run a massive operation like GE and spend almost every weekend on the golf course? You find a Rosanne, that's how. And what made "Ro" run? She says it's all about the pride and passion of being part of a winning team. But there is another P-word -- process. The Welch-Badowski team combined Jack's leadership genius with Rosanne's incredible talent for driving a relentless process that kept the CEO on top of things. "Managing Up" gives readers a good look at that process and at the rewards that come from hard work and doing one's best no matter who gets lionized.

This is a must-read, fabulous and fun (quick to read) book. I've never read such a straightforward and insightful look into the specific daily routine, style, and approach of a top executive. From her invaluable list on page 114 (how to prepare Jack so he was effective in meetings) to Chapter 11 on simplicity and how the annual calendar shaped Jack's routine, I picked up so many practical tips. And if you only read four pages, read pp. 156 - 159. I personally enjoyed the insider stories behind the Kidder Peabody mess and how Jack handles adversity (hint, he doesn't spend one minute looking in the past), to what Jack emotional felt when he had to let an executive go. You just don't get these kinds of insights anyplace else.