Who Do I Answer to When My Direct Supervisor, VP, and CEO All Make Requests?
TL;DR
Your direct supervisor comes first
Don’t go over their head unless you are told to
Clarify urgency instead of guessing
Keep people informed so no one is surprised
Trying to do everything at once creates more problems, not fewer
Who Do I Answer to When My Direct Supervisor, VP, and CEO All Make Requests?
You answer to your direct supervisor first, even when requests come from higher levels. Your job is to communicate clearly, not to guess or juggle silently.
Now let’s slow this down, because this situation causes more stress than most managers admit.
Why this situation feels stressful
When requests come in from different leaders, your body reacts before your brain does.
Your heart rate goes up.
Your mind starts racing.
You feel like you’re being tested.
You might think:
“If the CEO asked, I can’t ignore it.”
“If I don’t respond fast, I’ll look incompetent.”
“If I ask for clarification, I’ll look weak.”
So you try to handle everything at once.
That’s when mistakes happen.
That’s when you stay late.
That’s when the stress follows you home.
This isn’t because you’re bad at your job.
It’s because the situation creates pressure without clarity.
My clear position on this
You should not go over your direct supervisor’s head.
Your direct supervisor is responsible for:
your priorities
your workload
and how your work fits into the bigger picture
Even when a VP or CEO makes a request, it does not mean your reporting line disappears.
Skipping your supervisor can:
create confusion
damage trust
make you look misaligned
and put you in the middle of leadership tension that isn’t yours to carry
Good intentions don’t protect you from these outcomes. Clear communication does.
What to do when requests come in
When this happens, pause before reacting.
You don’t need to decide everything immediately.
Start with this:
Let your supervisor know what came in
Ask how to prioritize
Share deadlines if they exist
This puts the decision where it belongs, not on your shoulders alone.
What this sounds like in real life
Here are examples managers actually use:
“I received a request from the VP and one from the CEO today. Can you help me prioritize?”
“I want to make sure I’m aligned. Here’s what came in, what should come first?”
“I’m working on X today. I can start this next unless you want me to shift focus.”
This is not pushing back.
This is managing responsibly.
Why this works
When you communicate clearly:
leaders know what’s being handled
expectations are set
and you stop carrying silent pressure
Strong managers don’t guess.
They don’t disappear.
They don’t try to impress everyone.
They make priorities visible.
What if the CEO needs something urgently?
If something truly is urgent, your supervisor will tell you.
Urgent doesn’t mean important-sounding.
Urgent means real consequences if delayed.
When you keep your supervisor in the loop, you protect yourself and the work.
The bigger picture
Managing up isn’t about pleasing everyone.
It’s about:
protecting focus
reducing confusion
and keeping work sustainable
When everything feels urgent, the issue isn’t effort, it’s lack of structure.
Structure is what helps managers stay calm under pressure and switch off after work.
And that’s something you’re allowed to build.
You are not wrong for wanting clarity.
You are not weak for asking how to prioritize.
And you are not required to carry leadership tension that isn’t yours.
Your direct supervisor is there to help set priorities, use that relationship.
Clear communication protects you, the work, and the trust around you.
Leadership under pressure isn’t about reacting faster.
It’s about deciding wisely, and letting go of what was never yours to hold.
♻️ Share this with a manager who needs a steadier way to lead.
If you want to understand what’s really weighing on you,
