Say it like this
- She has five direct reports on her engineering team
- One of my direct reports just got promoted
- I need to schedule one-on-ones with all my direct reports this week
Use it at work
Describing your role
- I have four direct reports.
- She's one of my direct reports.
In management
- I have one-on-ones with each direct report every week.
- Can you give feedback on my direct report's project?
Hiring
- This role will have two direct reports at first.
- How many direct reports does the manager have?
Don't say this
A person cannot be a 'direct report manager'; a manager has direct reports, or someone is a direct report of a manager.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| direct report | Someone who reports to you | Managers | Org charts |
| skip-level | Your manager's manager, or their reports | Managers | Skip-level meetings |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your colleague asks how many people you manage. What do you say?
2. As an engineering manager, I conduct weekly one-on-ones with each of my _______.
3. Which sentence uses direct report incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using direct report: 'The people who work under Sarah need to meet with her every two weeks.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"She has five direct reports on her engineering team"
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More about direct report
Real examples(3)
- in a team meeting
"As the engineering lead, I manage eight direct reports across two product lines."
- in a performance review
"My manager discussed career growth opportunities with me during our one-on-one because I'm one of her direct reports."
- in an email
"Please send the Q3 goals document to all your direct reports by end of week."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse with 'report' (a document). A direct report is a person, not a document. Also avoid using it to mean 'to report directly' as a verb.
- ✕I need to direct report this issue to the team.✓I need to report this issue to my manager.
'Direct report' is a noun describing a person, not a verb meaning to communicate information.
- ✕We have three direct reports documents to review.✓We have three direct reports to review (or three reports to review).
Direct reports are people, not documents. Do not confuse with the word 'report'.
Other forms(2)
- direct report noun
"I have four direct reports on my team."
- direct reports noun (plural)
"The manager oversees ten direct reports."
Often used with(4)
- have direct reports · Used to express the number of people someone manages
- manage direct reports · Refers to the act of supervising and supporting people who report to you
- one-on-one with direct reports · Private meetings between a manager and each of their direct reports
- direct report feedback · Performance evaluations or coaching given to employees by their manager
Similar words(3)
- team member · Broader term; all direct reports are team members, but not all team members may be direct reports
- subordinate · More formal and less commonly used in modern tech workplaces; can sound negative
- reportee · Rare; sometimes used in HR contexts but not common in tech
Opposites(3)
- manager
- supervisor
- direct manager
Questions(5)
- What does direct report mean in tech companies?
- A direct report is an employee who works directly under a specific manager. The manager is responsible for their supervision, performance evaluations, career development, and day-to-day guidance. It indicates the hierarchical relationship on an organization chart.
- How do you use direct report in a sentence at work?
- You use it to describe the people who report to you as a manager. Example: 'I have five direct reports on my engineering team.' You can also say 'She is one of my direct reports' meaning someone is supervised by you.
- Is direct report formal or informal?
- Direct report is neutral to slightly formal. It is professional and commonly used in corporate environments, emails, and meetings, but it is not overly stiff. It is the standard term used in tech companies.
- Can direct report be used as a verb?
- No. Direct report is only a noun. Do not use it as a verb. To report information, say 'I reported this' or 'I will report this to my manager,' not 'I direct reported it.'
- What is the difference between a direct report and a team member?
- A direct report is specifically someone who reports to you as their manager. A team member can refer to anyone on a team, including people who may report to other managers within the same team or organization.
