Offering your star performers access to their skip-level managers is critical for their upward growth—and retention. And while you might fear your stars will outshine you, helping illuminate their work draws attention to your skills as well. Here’s how to set the relationship between your direct report and your boss up for success.
Plan skip-level meetings in advance. Brainstorm with your manager ahead of time about the types of activities to cover with your report—for example, troubleshooting cross-functional challenges and discussing career goals. Giving your manager options keeps the two of you in sync.
Make the benefits of the relationship clear to both parties. Tell your report how this connection gives them visibility and appreciation, and tell your boss what skills and experiences your star performer can bring to projects.
Ensure your boss knows your report’s bandwidth. This proactively discourages them from assigning work directly to your report without consulting you first, and it reinforces to your report that their work priorities remain unchanged. |
