Guide 91 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “boss”
Five rungs on the org chart — each a better word than "boss."
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Boss" is informal to the point of being wrong in writing. "Manager" is the direct supervisor; "supervisor" is a role title; "lead" is lighter; "director" and "head" are senior titles; "executive" is top brass.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Manager neutral
direct line report relationship
Escalate to your manager first.
- 02Supervisor neutral
formal title for direct oversight
Request approval from your supervisor.
- 03Lead neutral
senior within a team, not a manager
The engineering lead will triage.
- 04Director formal
department-level leader
The director signed off on the plan.
- 05Head neutral
top of a function
Loop in the head of product.