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15 principles for managing up
When your boss loves you, you have options. Here's how to help your manager get what they need, so you get what you want.
Oct 25, 2023
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Wes Kao
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My most popular posts of 2025
Become a sharper operator, communicate more clearly, improve how you manage up, and more.
Dec 17
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Wes Kao
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Wes Kao's Newsletter Holiday Gift Guide 2025
Gift ideas for the operators, leaders, and builders in your life (including yourself)
Dec 3
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Wes Kao
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How to give a senior leader feedback (without getting fired)
Nov 20, 2024
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Why high performers make assertions: The difference between insights, suggestions, and assertions
Apr 30
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How to be concise
Aug 7, 2024
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How I give the right amount of context (in any situation)
Jun 5, 2024
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Take 3 minutes to delete these words and improve your writing forever
Jun 18
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How to delegate while maintaining high standards
Jul 9
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Wes Kao
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Latest
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[Fundamentals] Strategy, not self-expression
Aim for one goal: behavior change. Sweet, sweet behavior change. Everything else you might want to say? Keep it to yourself.
Nov 12
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Wes Kao
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How to get faster approval from your manager
Managing up 101: You can’t force your manager to approve your work. But you can embrace that it’s your responsibility to get better at securing their…
Oct 29
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Wes Kao
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Observe, assert, and validate (OAV)
Don’t only ask, "How can I be helpful?" Try to develop a point of view and assert what to do.
Oct 15
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Wes Kao
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Reverse impostor syndrome
Imposter syndrome is other people thinking you’re good, but you don’t believe it yourself. Reverse imposter syndrome is knowing you are good, but others…
Oct 1
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Wes Kao
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[Fundamentals] Start right before you get eaten by the bear
Fundamentals is a new series that highlights my core concepts in communication, leadership, and influence that I personally keep coming back to.
Sep 17
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Wes Kao
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Why "'no' is a complete sentence" is dangerous advice
If your colleague asks you to do a reasonable request that’s part of your job, and you simply turn say “no”... You are the jerk.
Sep 3
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Wes Kao
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Stop trying to change your manager
Because you don’t have the leverage to turn your manager into a different person. Here's what to do instead.
Aug 20
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Wes Kao
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How to be an empathetic manager (without becoming a therapist)
You don't need to absorb everyone’s frustrations. Here’s how to listen to grievances without having folks dump their frustrations onto you.
Aug 6
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Wes Kao
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To sound more sincere, do this
If you aren’t careful, you may come across as less sincere because your writing doesn’t translate your intent. Here’s how to make sure that doesn’t…
Jul 23
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Wes Kao
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Wes Kao's Newsletter
A bi-weekly newsletter on managing up, executive communication, and standing out as a high-performer. Written by an a16z-backed founder.
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