Do you have an accidental manager? Here's how to manage up

By Amanda Kavanagh

In the corporate world, some management professionals find themselves in positions of authority almost by accident.

These accidental managers, while usually well-meaning, can lack the skills and experience necessary to effectively lead their teams. This is dubbed the "leadership gap".

They may have landed a promotion to management purely by being good at their role, or a restructure or sudden departure may have thrust them into a position they hadn't anticipated.

It's true that many accidental managers do succeed, and this is often attributed to mentoring, coaching and self-directed learning, while some simply copy the successful strategies of their own past managers.

However, others do not know or learn effective management strategies, and this becomes a problem for people they oversee. If this sounds like your manager, then fret not, you can still manage up. Here's how.

Recognise their strengths and weakness
Even the most ineffective managers contribute something positive to their teams. Take some time to assess your manager's areas of expertise, and identify what's lacking. Depending on your levels of frustration, these may come to mind immediately or will take a while.

Understanding where your manager is lacking can help you tailor your approach without undermining their authority, whether you're offering assistance directly, inputting on team hiring priorities or proposing a tool to bridge a particular skills gap.

Communicate clearly
When dealing with an accidental manager, clear, continuous communication is key. Establish a regular meeting time, such as a weekly one-to-one, so you can share ideas, and concerns in a non-confrontational manner.

Don't just complain, propose solutions, and use "we" and "team" language.

Listen to your manager's input and understand the demands being made on them through higher-ups. What may be a priority for you, may be way down their list.

By fostering an open dialogue, you can build a supportive working relationship that ensures both of your needs are being met.

Seek out shared development opportunities
While it's inappropriate to encourage your manager to pursue management or leadership training, you can suggest you both attend a particular workshop or conference together.

Not only will there be a chance to learn skills that will enhance both your leadership skills, but you'll also build your relationship by spending time away from the day-to-day.

If that all seems a bit much, or you've passed the point of no return with an ineffective manager, it could be time for something new.

Check out the American Banker Job Board where you'll find thousands of new roles at progressive companies updated daily, like these three.

Origin Bank
Late last year, Origin Bank made American Banker's list of Best Banks To Work For with More Than $10B of Assets. The Ruston, Louisiana company runs quarterly surveys to allow staff to provide anonymous feedback to senior management, while new hires go through "culture orientation" with senior executives, and employees also get up to 20 hours PTO to volunteer each year. It's currently hiring for a number of roles in Dallas, Farmerville, Ruston, Tyler, Longview, Shreveport, Frisco and Flowood, and across levels from interns and officers to analysts and relationship banking specialists. See open roles here.

UBS
UBS is the largest private bank in the world, and as such, maintains a presence across the major financial centers. Since its acquisition of Credit Suisse in March last year, its U.S. headcount has grown by 60%, and the organization has reportedly hired a number of senior bankers from Barclays. If you're looking to make your mark in a leading investment bank, now's your chance. In New York, salaries for Credit Risk Review Officers start at $113K, while director positions begin at $130K, and interns are paid an hourly rate. See what's on offer here.

Ripple
Ripple may be in the news for its legal fight against the SEC, and the crypto market is still fluctuating wildly, but the global payments network still has over 300 customers across forty countries, and is growing constantly. There are positions on offer in San Francisco and New York for senior managers, senior financial analysts and senior directors. View available roles here.

Find your next fulfilling job today on the American Banker Job Board