Which of the following is a component of Leading Up the Chain?

• A. Tactical engagement with the immediate boss to obtain the decisions and support necessary to enable the team to accomplish the mission; pushing situational awareness up the chain; using influence, experience, knowledge, communication, and maintaining the highest professionalism.
• B. Keeping all information to yourself.
• C. Ignoring the chain of command.
• D. Avoiding professional communication.

Answer: (A)

Leading Up the Chain is about actively working with those above you to move the mission forward. It means you don’t wait for directions but engage your supervisor to secure the decisions and resources the team needs, while also keeping upwards awareness about the situation so higher levels understand the context. It relies on using influence, experience, knowledge, clear communication, and maintaining the highest professionalism to align priorities and enable action.

That described approach best fits the idea of leading upward: you present options, risks, and recommendations to your boss, help them decide, and ensure they have the information needed to support the team. Keeping information to yourself, bypassing the chain of command, or avoiding professional communication undermine coordination, transparency, and effectiveness.