According to a recent survey by research group The Conference Board, “Developing the next generation of leaders is the third internal concern for CEOs globally.” Meanwhile, Slack’s recent Good Collaboration, Bad Collaboration report found that, “Ten percent of French respondents rated ‘hierarchy’ as a top personal challenge at work.”

There is a clear tension between these two realities. This disconnect shines a light on the fact that we often rely too much on people in leadership positions to make crucial decisions, which can exclude and possibly alienate most people in our organizations.

Employees need to feel that their input is heard and valued, but anyone in a report position knows that speaking up can feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, it’s downright intimidating. So we looked up a few experts to see what they had to say about the art and science of “managing up” and ways that managers can create a team culture that encourages two-way conversation.