When you go up the tree you got to kind of put your weight to the rear. I kind of hop on the foot portion to let the teeth dig in. You can kind of push down on the top portion so the teeth dig in a little more. Pressure the farther from the tree is key.
Remember set your stand up at a higher angle to compensate for the tree narrowing as you go up. Or your stand will be a bad angle downwards. I made a quick drawing to illustrate it. Couldn’t really explain to well.