According to Jan Bruce’s research at meQuilibrium (2025), managers today face:
📍 59% higher emotional demand than direct reports
📍 12% less likelihood of receiving support
📍 A 50% chance of considering quitting within a year
When managers are burned out, your growth stalls. But this is also your master class in Influencing up.
Signs of a burned-out boss (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2024):
📍 Inconsistent energy (microInfluencing one day, absent the next)
📍 Emotional disconnection or dismissiveness
📍 Unclear direction, dropped feedback loops
What can you do?
✅ Create Structure
Lead 1:1s with clear agendas. Follow up in writing. Maintain a paper trail that protects both of you.
✅ Normalize Support
Model healthy boundaries. Thank them when they make space. Offer support without over-functioning.
✅ Set the Tone
People mirror the energy around them. Stay calm, focused, and kind. You don’t need to meditate on Fifth Avenue, but you can lead without a title.
Insta Post June 16, 2025
Thoughts You don’t control the pace of change. But you control how you show up. You can improve your manager’s performance, build your internal brand, shield yourself during layoffs and transitions, and put yourself in a position to lead in the next opportunity.
Influencing up isn’t about ego—it’s about alignment, visibility, and leadership from every seat.
Your boss has a thousand fires to fight.
Be the person who brings clarity, calm, and contribution.
Not only will you elevate your career—you’ll stabilize your team during transition.