Learning plan cover

Manage your managers.

LEARNING PLAN

Manage your managers.

Managing up is a critical career skill that separates high performers from those who plateau in their careers. This learning plan is essential for ambitious professionals who want to accelerate their impact, build stronger relationships with leadership, and position themselves for advancement by becoming strategic partners rather than just direct reports.

ByCommunity User
2 h 32 m
9 coursesUpdated 122 days ago
The 360 Degree LeaderServe Up, Coach DownInfluence9 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed's proprietary AI to help you learn Manage your managers. with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering Manage your managers..

What You'll Learn

  • Build a strategic partnership with your manager by understanding their priorities, pressures, and decision-making context
  • Master persuasion and communication tactics that help you advocate effectively and frame ideas to resonate with leadership
  • Develop executive presence and gravitas that positions you as a peer to senior leaders rather than a subordinate
  • Cultivate business acumen and strategic thinking skills that allow you to anticipate executive needs and drive outcomes
  • Transform from a task-focused employee into an indispensable advisor who speaks the language of leadership

Build the foundational understanding of what it means to manage up—from understanding your manager's priorities and pressures to developing the self-awareness that makes you a strategic partner rather than just a direct report.

The 360 Degree Leader cover
The 360 Degree Leader

Empower yourself to lead from any position, influencing up, across, and down in your organization for maximum impact.

8 m
Serve Up, Coach Down cover
Serve Up, Coach Down

Empower middle managers to excel by serving leaders above and coaching teams below, transforming organizational performance and innovation.

9 m

Learn the psychology of persuasion and communication tactics that help you advocate effectively, frame your ideas in ways that resonate with leadership, and build the trust that makes executives listen.

Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion cover
Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion

Understanding the psychology of persuasion and influence

9 m
Influence is Your Superpower cover
Influence is Your Superpower

Discover your innate power of influence and learn ethical techniques to win hearts, spark change, and achieve your goals.

9 m
podcast cover
The 3 Secrets to Effective Time InvestmentMaximize Your PotentialThe Unspoken Truths for Career Success
3 sources
The Hidden Language of Career Influence

Master the psychology-backed communication tactics that transform workplace conversations into career advancement opportunities. Learn to speak the language of business value and strategic influence.

12 m

Develop the gravitas, communication skills, and professional presence that position you as a peer to senior leaders—learning to speak their language and demonstrate the leadership qualities that earn respect.

Executive Presence cover
Executive Presence

Unlock the secrets of leadership presence and advance your career with expert insights on gravitas, communication, and appearance.

8 m
The Power of Presence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice cover
The Power of Presence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice

Science-backed strategies for authentic, impactful executive presence.

1 m

Master the art of thinking strategically about organizational goals, developing business acumen that allows you to anticipate executive needs, and positioning yourself as an indispensable advisor who drives business outcomes.

Rise cover
Rise

Proven executive secrets to skyrocket your career beyond office politics

8 m
Impact Players cover
Impact Players

Discover how top performers think and act differently, unlocking your potential to make a greater impact at work.

8 m

Discover more

Advance Career, Manage Better & Boost Output

Advance Career, Manage Better & Boost Output

LEARNING PLAN

Advance Career, Manage Better & Boost Output

This learning plan is designed for ambitious professionals and emerging leaders who want to transition from individual contributors to high-impact managers. It combines essential leadership tactics with advanced productivity frameworks to help you scale your influence and output simultaneously.

3 h 22 m4 Sections
The high performance manager

The high performance manager

LEARNING PLAN

The high performance manager

In today's fast-paced business environment, managers must evolve beyond basic supervision to drive exceptional team performance while maintaining sustainable practices. This learning plan equips current and aspiring managers with the strategic mindset, coaching abilities, and executive presence needed to elevate their leadership impact across all organizational levels.

2 h 28 m4 Sections
Advance My Career

Advance My Career

LEARNING PLAN

Advance My Career

This learning plan is essential for professionals aiming to break through career plateaus and move into senior management. It bridges the gap between technical expertise and the strategic leadership skills required to influence at the highest levels of an organization.

2 h 47 m4 Sections
Lead Better: Manager Skills

Lead Better: Manager Skills

LEARNING PLAN

Lead Better: Manager Skills

This learning plan provides a complete leadership development journey for managers at all levels, from those making their first transition into management to executives scaling organizations. It addresses the most critical leadership challenges—building credibility, developing people, driving change, and multiplying impact—with practical frameworks that deliver immediate results while building long-term strategic capabilities.

2 h 16 m4 Sections
Able to be a great manager at my job.

Able to be a great manager at my job.

LEARNING PLAN

Able to be a great manager at my job.

Transitioning into management or seeking to strengthen your leadership capabilities requires a comprehensive skill set that goes far beyond technical expertise. This learning plan is designed for new and aspiring managers who want to build a strong foundation, as well as experienced managers looking to refine their approach and scale their impact. You'll develop the essential competencies that separate good managers from great ones—from building trust and empowering teams to navigating difficult conversations and thinking strategically.

2 h4 Sections
Boost mgmt skills & goal achievement

Boost mgmt skills & goal achievement

LEARNING PLAN

Boost mgmt skills & goal achievement

Effective management is the critical multiplier between individual effort and organizational success, yet most managers receive little formal training in leading people and driving results. This learning plan is designed for new managers making the leap from individual contributor, experienced managers looking to strengthen their leadership foundation, and anyone responsible for achieving goals through others who wants to build systematic approaches to management excellence.

1 h 56 m4 Sections
Become a Manager People Respect

Become a Manager People Respect

LEARNING PLAN

Become a Manager People Respect

This learning plan is essential for new and aspiring managers who want to lead with respect rather than authority alone, as well as experienced managers looking to transform their leadership impact. Whether you're making the leap from individual contributor or seeking to elevate your management effectiveness, this program addresses the core skills that separate managers people tolerate from those they genuinely respect and willingly follow.

2 h5 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

See More Stories?

How people are talking about BeFreed across the web
Start your learning journey, now