The Angel Edit: The Secret to Being Heard (Especially By Busy Bosses)

The Angel Edit: The Secret to Being Heard (Especially By Busy Bosses)

Read Time: 5 minutes

Topics Covered: Managing Upwards, Clear Communication, Strategic Influence, Leadership Presence

We’ve all had this experience: You're trying to share critical details with your manager, but they seem to glaze over.

You leave the conversation feeling like you haven't been heard, and they leave feeling confused and overwhelmed.

It's a common disconnect, especially with senior leaders who operate at a different altitude.

The reality is, a senior leader's role isn't to understand every detail of your work.

They're not interested in the “what”.

They're interested in the “so what.”

Their job is to make decisions and move the organisation forward.

And the more you drown them in details, the more it feels like you're stuck in execution mode rather than being a strategic partner.

Managing upwards is about shifting your mindset from reporting on tasks to presenting solutions.

This is where you elevate your credibility and build trust.

The Problem: The Firehose of Details

Think of it like a firehose.

When you spray your manager with every piece of information, they can't possibly absorb it all. I

t’s overwhelming and makes it difficult for them to see the bigger picture.

When you're early in your career, focusing on execution is necessary.

But as you progress, your role evolves from being an executor to a unifier, where you bring people, processes, and policies together, and finally to a leader, where you direct strategy and make decisions.

At each stage, the way you communicate must adapt.

The Real Power Play: Clarity

One of the fastest ways to elevate how you’re perceived at work, especially by senior leaders, is by learning how to translate details into insights.

That’s the shift from execution to influence.

This is how you shift from being seen as a task-doer to a strategic thinker:

• Detail: “We ran three campaigns this quarter across four markets.”

• Insight: “Brand awareness rose 14% in Singapore and Japan.”

• Strategic Recommendation: “Based on this, I’d recommend continuing the current strategy, increasing investment in Indonesia, or reallocating resources to scale in top-performing markets. I need your view on which lever to prioritise.” 

When you come to the table with solutions and a clear point of view, you signal that you are a decision-maker, and not just an executor.

This kind of clarity is a form of kindness.

It respects your manager’s time and mental energy, making it easier for them to support your work.

And if you want to go even deeper, I also recommend understanding your manager’s communication style.

Some prefer data, others love visuals, some want stories, and others want straight-to-the-point summaries.

This guide is a useful breakdown of different communication preferences.

No matter your industry or title, being able to manage up with clarity and confidence is a non-negotiable leadership skill.

You don’t need to do more to be seen.

Instead, it's about building the meta skills that help us be seen, heard and valued.

Read about this and more in my Career Power Move Playbook.

I’m curious to know, what is a challenge you’re currently facing at the workplace?

Rooting for you,

Angel Kilian

Founder l Career inFocus