The hardest thing to do, is trying to move information upward in the hierarchy. Why? Those occupying the top have leveraged their power (competence, connection, expertise, etc) to cement their position by fending off any criticism by any means.
If you’re a subordinate, you have to be extremely careful how you choose to feed info to the top. Too much information and you risk making them look like a fool. Too little, and you just showcase how irrelevant you are.
How do you move information to the top? You do it privately with the individual it concerns. You do it with respect and offer a solution to the problem, but then ask their opinion about it.
A very distant example; A CEO once took me out to dinner. After he paid the tab, he also gave a $100 tip to the waiter. I waited till the waiter was gone, before I reached out to my pocket and him I would cover the tip, returning the $100 to the CEO.
Had I’d paid the waiter, I would of undermined the value of the CEO out in the open. Had I not reimbursed the CEO after the waiter left, I would of looked like a leech. This is the simplest but very crucial example on how to move information from yourself to someone above you.
Moving information upwards can take ANY form of interaction between you and someone above you. It starts in your family home; how you interact and respect your father/mother.
You respect your parents because they are your parents and have, at least, provided a roof over your head. You respect those superior to you because they have the capacity to propel you towards your future goals.
Remember this; those at the top have ALL THE REASONS to falsify, manipulate the information moving upwards. It’s in their best interest to play finite games (zero sum games) to defend their position. By default, you are disadvantaged.
How do you play against someone who plays zero sum? Specially when you’re trying to play positive sum? You defend their position. Show loyalty, and show that you provide MORE security to their position than instability.
