Successfully managing people or projects requires the ability to “manage up.” This critically important skill entails identifying key leadership stakeholders, aligning with their priorities, and communicating effectively. Quality leaders must be effective in this skill to implement and manage short-term and long-term quality initiatives. While it takes time and effort, “managing up” makes our – and our bosses’ – jobs easier as we are all on the same page and share mutual goals.
Ms. Farber-Lau will use her extensive project management experience from both the private and public sectors to share lessons learned and tools that have been successful in “managing” different types of bosses and leadership stakeholders. She will draw on lessons learned from her recent work on USDA’s Specialty Crops Integrated Operating Network, which required managing stakeholders from across the enterprise and other Federal agencies. Participants will learn how to identify key leadership stakeholders, understand leaders’ and organizational priorities, align their work with organizational goals, and effectively communicate and collaborate with stakeholders.
Stakeholder buy-in is essential for any successful project, including Lean and Six Sigma efforts. This session, “Managing Up – Important Tools to Influence Your Leadership Stakeholders” will teach participants how to improve communication and better manage their leadership stakeholders to improve outcomes. The target audience for this session is growing leaders who are looking to add to their skillsets and anyone who would like to focus on communication skills.
Heather Farber-Lau is an ASQ certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a project manager for the United States Department of Agriculture. Ms. Farber-Lau manages several highly visible projects and earned awards for her work to improve Agency outcomes. She currently is leading a major IT modernization project and led her team’s successful effort to secure $8 million in funding from the Federal government’s “The Modernization Fund.” Prior to joining the USDA, she worked for HealthPartners, Land O’Lakes, and the Girl Scouts. She earned her MBA from the University of St. Thomas and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Grinnell College. She is an effective communicator who enjoys mentoring others to help them find
success in their careers.