Managing Up! How to Maintain an Effective and Productive Relationship with your Boss (and Peers)

As legal aid managers, whether managing attorneys, unit chiefs, litigation directors, or executive directors, we focus most of our attention on directing and guiding the work of staff who report to us. This webinar will present strategies and skills to influence the work and decisions of colleagues, peers and your own supervisors to achieve a shared vision, better collaboration, and greater effectiveness of your office’s work.

This session will address:

• Managing up – when, how and why
• Developing and confirming shared mission and vision
• Understanding supervisory styles (your own and others’)
• Communication strategies and skills for presenting information to produce results
• Decision making styles and steps
• Delegation strategies and techniques
• Working with the person rather than the position
• Helping others meet their needs and goals
• Challenges and strategies in managing up

This 90 minute interactive webinar will introduce strategies and improve your skills in working more effectively and collaboratively with colleagues and partners, both with your supervisor and your direct reports.

Over 95% of registrants for the live webinar reported that they learned new strategies and techniques they will use in their work. 
Participants found the PowerPoint "great," they "liked the interactive portion and the role-playing" and reported that they learned:
"It was useful to think about how to present information to my supervisor and how she processes information, including her concerns in the big picture of the organization and for herself individually. I'll definitely use this info."
"I will put together a work plan for my Executive Director before asking to meet with him."
"It was helpful to be reminded to prepare for meetings in advance, to think about what the goal of the meeting is and how to present info in a way that will help accomplish my goal."
"It is ok to not only "toot your own horn" but it is important."
"While it turns out that I already do many of these things, it helped me to think about the institutional factors that affect a supervisor's decision-making process."

Our presenter for this webinar is Katherine W. Shank, Director of Volunteer Services at LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation), the largest civil legal aid program in Cook County, Illinois. Kate oversees all of LAF’s pro bono efforts including project development, volunteer recruitment, volunteer training, law firm and corporate relations, law student recruitment and management, and volunteer recognition. Kate also manages the statewide legal aid VISTA program. Kate began her career at LAF in 2001 representing clients in family law matters and spent several years as a general litigator also handling bankruptcies and subsidized housing eviction defense. As a Supervising Attorney, Kate concentrated her practice in the areas family law, domestic violence, and custody matters. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Miami University (1998) law degree from Northwestern University School of Law (2001) and a Certificate of Civic Leadership from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago (2015). 

Upon payment, you will be given a link to the webinar and PowerPoint presentation, and log in information. If you have questions, email helpdesk@m-i-e.org.