1 C1 idiomatic formal
To lead, supervise, and develop employees or team members who report to you.
"Good leaders must be able to manage down, giving their team clear direction and regular feedback."
inseparable
manage down
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
To effectively lead, direct, and communicate with subordinates or those lower in an organisational hierarchy.
In plain English
Be a good boss to the people who work for you.
What does "manage down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Business jargon. Used in management training, HR contexts, and corporate discourse. Contrasts with 'manage up' and 'manage across'.
Words that pair with "manage down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
effectively well team staff subordinates direct reports
How to conjugate "manage down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
manage down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
manages down
he/she/it
Past simple
managed down
yesterday
Past participle
managed down
have + pp
-ing form
managing down
continuous
Hear "manage down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "manage down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
direct lead oversee subordinates supervise
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