What To Do If Your Manager Seems Detached

This segment addresses the common experience of feeling disconnected from a manager and provides tactical advice for becoming more visible and driving engagement in that relationship. The message is rooted in realism: most managers are overwhelmed, and visibility must be earned through structured communication.

• Managers often appear detached—not maliciously, but due to bandwidth: With many reports and constant demands, a manager may not track every individual’s progress or struggles unless the impact is urgent or visible.
• Visibility must be self-driven: It's essential to lower the "activation energy" required for a manager to know what’s going on. Regular updates make it easier for them to stay engaged and supportive.
• Weekly written updates are powerful: Creating a consistent cadence of updates helps establish a communication rhythm. These should include:

  • Top of mind: What’s currently being prioritized.

  • Priorities: Key goals from the current or past week.

  • Actions: Clear tasks being worked on, by either the employee or the manager.

• Proactive documentation helps managers help more effectively: Preparing and sharing this structure before one-on-ones gives the manager context and allows for more productive, actionable feedback.
• Taking initiative builds influence: Instead of expecting a manager to chase progress or identify gaps, the individual contributor can shape the relationship by driving clarity and making collaboration easier.