Managing up is not about office politics or manipulation. It’s a way to help your manager and your organization succeed.

We all have blind spots. Even coaches. Even seasoned executives. Even the leaders who look like they have it all figured out from the outside.

The start of the year is the perfect time for a leadership pause. This leadership audit offers powerful reflection questions to help you assess your impact, energy, blind spots, and priorities—so you can move forward with intention rather than urgency.

The review itself isn’t usually the problem. It’s how we approach it.

You worked hard, and you earned the promotion. But now comes the awkward part: Your former peers are now your direct reports… and no one gave you a guidebook.