Ask HN: How do you show your manager that you do not need “handholding”?

I'm SE2.

My manager just told me that sometimes I need handholding (I do disagree, but I didn't tell him that).

95% of the time I do my tasks on my own.... however, sometimes I have to ask questions to the higher-ups on clarifications or just bouncing off ideas...

Being free of handholding can take me to SE3 apparently, and I want to do that as soon as possible.