[throwaway93982]

Service-oriented would be when they make themselves available as a service to "customers" (direct reports, other teams). Think of helpdesk/customer service, where there's docs on how to communicate/collaborate/find needed info, times to schedule meetings/office hours, etc. Focusing more on the experience and needs of the people who might need the manager for something.

Up-managing is basically supporting your boss. Help them with their goals, find ways to unblock them, ask them how they're doing/let them vent, make them look good to others.

Personally I disagree with the whole "making someone else look good" management philosophy (including "only complain up"). I think it's dishonest and counter-productive. Sure it reduces friction, but it doesn't help crappy things be less crappy. It does prevent people from having hard conversations which might change things for the better. We need to take the ego and resistance to change out of work/management.

[hinkley]

It doesn’t just have to be helping your boss. From your reports’ point of view, it’s a matter of spending less time telling us how to do our jobs and spending more helping the boss figure out how to do theirs.

Because often the people doing the thing have a pretty good idea what’s possible and what’s not, and when the management wants unicorns they will be unhappy with everyone because all they are getting from them is ponies. Someone has to tell them that’s because unicorns don’t exist and they’re being not just unreasonable but unhinged.