Most manager training focuses on one thing: leading a team.
Which makes sense. That’s a big part of the job.
But at Reforge Change, we teach something else too, something that’s just as important and often completely overlooked:
How to manage up.
Because managers aren’t just responsible for the people below them.
They’re in the middle. Leading down, across and upwards.
And that means knowing how to:
- Flag issues without creating conflict
- Push back without sounding like they’re criticising leadership
- Raise the awkward thing… in a way that actually gets heard
If they don’t have those skills, they either go quiet (and things fester), or go blunt (and damage trust). Neither helps.
So in our programmes, we build the skills that help managers stay credible and constructive — even in tricky conversations.
One tool we use: SBI + Bridge
This is one of the tools we teach in our manager development programmes.
It helps managers structure feedback or upward communication like this:
Situation → Behaviour → Impact ➕ a Bridge to something better
So instead of saying: “That announcement didn’t go down well.”
They can say: “In yesterday’s team meeting, the change was introduced without much context. The team’s now feeling confused and unsure. Could we follow up with some clarity on what it means for them?”
No drama. No finger-pointing.
Just mature, respectful, leadership-level communication.
And we don’t just hand them the tool. We run scenarios, roleplays and practice sessions so they can use it confidently.
Designed for the real world
Our training isn’t off-the-shelf. It’s built around your organisation, your challenges and your managers’ realities.
So if you’re looking to build a cohort of managers who can challenge up, coach down, and lead through change then we’d love to help.
Drop us a line to learn more about how our “Managing Up” module works as part of a broader programme, or as a stand-alone session.
Reforge Change.
Helping managers land change that sticks — without the chaos.
