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Business English vocabulary · Working Life

Manage up

Meaning in business english, with examples

phrasal verbAdvanced term

In business english, manage up means: To work proactively with one's manager to improve communication, priorities and mutual effectiveness.

In Turkish: yöneticiyle ilişkiyi etkin yönetmek

How it is used

Used in career development. It means helping the working relationship function, not secretly controlling the manager or replacing their authority.

Example sentences

  1. I learned to manage up by sending my manager clear options instead of presenting only problems.

    The employee improves the information available for decisions.

  2. To manage up well, ask which deadlines matter most when your manager assigns competing tasks.

    Clarifying priorities aligns effort with the manager's expectations.

Common collocations

  • learn to manage up
  • manage up effectively
  • line managerThe person directly above you in a company who assigns your work, approves your leave and reviews your performance.
  • report toTo have someone as your direct manager, the person who gives you work, approves your decisions and reviews your performance.

More terms: Working Life

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