Virtual Lab: Managing Strategic Relationships: Practical Skills for Managing Up with Confidence

Managing Strategic Relationships: Practical Skills for Managing Up with Confidence

Ever feel unsure how to push back, ask for what you need, or share tough feedback with a boss or key client? In this interactive virtual session, Michelle Gilbert, Chief Engine Officer of Purple Engine Coaching, guides participants through practical, real-world approaches to managing up and strengthening strategic relationships. Participants will explore how communication styles, priorities, and conflict dynamics influence interactions with leaders and stakeholders, and how small adjustments in approach can lead to more productive conversations. By the end of the session, participants will have greater clarity around how to communicate more effectively, advocate for their needs, and navigate pushback or challenging feedback in ways that build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and support stronger working relationships with those who hold influence and decision-making power.

In this lab you will:

• Get clairification on what “managing up” truly means and why it’s a critical leadership skill at every career stage, regardless of title or role.
• Be able to identify common communication styles among leaders, clients, and stakeholders and learn how to adapt their approach to be more effectively heard.
• Recognize different types of conflict (goal, process, and relationship conflict) and apply a practical framework to navigate them with confidence and professionalism.
• Strengthen your ability to advocate for their needs, ask better questions, and address pushback without damaging trust.
• Walk away with practical language, reflection tools, and small adjustments they can apply immediately to improve strategic relationships and reduce friction.

Tickets:
Free Professional, Executive & CI Gratis members
$45 General & Young Professional members  
$60 Inforum guests (non-members) 

Thank you to our facilitator: 

Michelle Gilbert is an ICF-certified executive coach with more than 30 years of leadership experience, Michelle Gilbert helps directors, VPs, and senior leaders navigate the conversations and moments that shape their careers—the ones that feel uncomfortable, high-stakes, or hard to prepare for. Whether delivering tough feedback, influencing up, or building executive presence and influence at the next level of leadership, Michelle partners with her clients to help them show up with confidence, clarity, and impact.

With 24 years of experience at Fortune 50 companies, Michelle understands the realities of leading under pressure, managing competing priorities, and influencing across levels without losing authenticity. She has sat in the meetings, led the conversations, and navigated the expectations that come with senior roles.

Through coaching, Michelle partners with her clients to strengthen their credibility and confidence, communicate with intention, and handle difficult conversations in ways that build trust and earn respect. Together, they focus on practical strategies leaders can apply immediately in real-world situations, so they’re not second-guessing themselves in critical moments and their leadership drives stronger outcomes for their teams and organizations.

About Inforum Virtual Labs
Inforum Virtual Labs are online, interactive and skills-based events that bring real-world perspective from a practitioner with deep expertise in a particular field or subject. The labs are designed with top-notch instruction, and selected to complement leadership development at different stages of careers. Participants will walk away with new information and a concrete personal action plan that carries the learning into workplace practice.