10 Good Synonyms for “Lead” on a Resume

So, you’ve recently led a project at work. Now, you’re wondering how to say you lead a project on your resume without using “lead.”

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

This article has gathered a list of synonyms to show you what to use instead of “lead” on your resume.

• Head
• Manage
• Helm
• Orchestrate
• Coordinate
• Direct
• Supervise
• Pilote
• Conduct
• Organize

You should read on to learn more synonyms for “lead.” You can include them in your application to mix things up and keep your writing interesting.

1. Head

Being in charge or “leading” anything in the workplace is a high honor. So, you should talk about it suitably if you’re trying to sell yourself on a resume.

Something like “head” does a good job here. It’s another word for “lead” on a resume. It’s formal and direct, making it a great way to show your leadership skills.

We recommend using it to show you’re up for a challenge. If you’ve already headed something, it implies you can take on new risks.

It also shows you’re willing to lead a team. This is often a great quality that’s hard to find in most employees.

You can also review these examples:

• I head the operation because they trust me with it. I’ve learned a lot about how to complete tasks like this.
• I head the task force to learn when things go wrong. We uncover problems in the workplace and try to remedy them.

2. Manage

For something a little simpler, try “manage.” It’s very professional and shows you how to say “lead” on your resume.

Generally speaking, everyone knows what “managing” entails. Therefore, including “manage” on your resume is an obvious word that shows you’ve been in charge of a group.

We recommend using it if you lead team projects. It shows you’re more than ready to take on new challenges and inspire new groups.

To help you out, check out the following resume samples:

• I manage the team myself, which shows I am a great team leader. I’m ready to take on a leadership role at your company.
• I manage multiple teams. I’m very excited to bring my knowledge with me to see what I can offer you.

3. Helm

Now, here’s one that’s a little more interesting. You can use “helm” instead of “lead” to mix things up. It’s a very exciting way to spice up your CV.

You should try it when you organize an event or lead an operation. It shows you were put in charge (usually, your boss would give you the helm) and did a good job with it.

Here are some CV examples to help you with it:

• I helm the event organization team. They come to me when they want to run me through some of their best ideas.
• I helm the operation, and I’m good at it. I’m prepared to share more information with you if you’re interested.

4. Orchestrate

Let’s go for a fancier alternative. One that you might not have come across before, but it’s a suitable choice nonetheless.

You can write “orchestrate” instead of “lead” on a resume. It’s a fun and interesting choice showing you took charge and led a team.

Generally, if you orchestrate something, it means you come up with ideas. Therefore, it’s good to include if you don’t want others to take credit for your creativity.

If you’re still unsure, these examples should help you:

• I orchestrate the team meetings. My colleagues rely on me to share the information with my superiors when available.
• I orchestrate most of these events. Without me, they wouldn’t have known what was happening around the office.

5. Coordinate

If you coordinate well, it means you work well as a team. So, you can use “coordinate” here to show that you lead a team (often to success).

You should use it to show you’re a team player. It works well because it shows you can put yourself into a leadership role and demand results from a team.

If you’re applying for something like a supervisor or managerial position, “coordinate” is going to work well.

You can also review the following examples:

• I coordinate many of the operations because my employer trusts me. I hope that comes across with my credentials.
• Naturally, I coordinate the efforts to move the project forward. Because of me, the company profited wildly.

6. Direct

Managers direct. Therefore, “direct” is something you should include if you’re applying for a management role.

It works better than “lead” in most cases because it is formal and demanding. It shows you already have what it takes to be a strong boss, and that’s a good quality to take with you.

Here are some cover letter samples to show you how it works:

• I direct the company. Also, I brought them out of financial decline and into a new decade of growth.
• I direct a team to show them the best ways to complete their projects. I believe they learned a lot under my tutelage.

7. Supervise

It’s worth using “supervise” as another way to say “lead” on your resume. It shows you oversaw a team and managed what they got up to.

Generally, supervisors rank above standard employees but below bosses. So, employees typically answer to supervisors, and supervisors typically answer to the boss.

You can use this when showcasing your leadership skills. It’s a very professional alternative that directly correlates with any management position you might look for.

We also recommend reviewing these examples if you’re still unsure:

• I supervise many of the projects myself. From that, I learned a lot about what needs to be done to advance.
• I supervise some of the team meetings when my employer isn’t available. It was a chance for me to learn from my peers.

8. Pilot

When you’re in charge of a project or operation, you may be deemed the “pilot.” Therefore, you can use “pilot” instead of “lead” to keep things interesting.

Don’t worry; “pilot” is still a professional alternative.

You can use it to impress a recruiter by letting them know what you’ve taken charge of. It suggests you’ve headed a team and produced positive results. It doesn’t get better than that.

Check out the following examples if you need help:

• I pilot the operation. There is no one better suited to the role than I am.
• I pilot every meeting with the team. I ensured that we got to the bottom of the situation and had solutions ready.

9. Conduct

In some instances, you may find “conduct” a useful alternative to “lead.” It shows you took charge of some projects and helped others complete them.

Generally, “conduct” is more in line with team projects. It shows you work well with others and typically take on a more supervisory or managerial position.

This will surely impress an employer reading through your resume. We certainly recommend including it if you’re looking for a promotion of some sort.

Here are a few great examples to help you:

• I conduct a few projects with my coworkers. They rely on me to provide them with information to help.
• I conduct the meetings myself. The shareholders know my worth. That’s how I got to where I am today.

10. Organize

You can write “organize” instead of “lead” in most business cases. Generally, if you organize something, it means you made it happen.

It implies that you created and led a project. It works best when a former employer gives you the go-ahead and trusts you to come up with something good.

We recommend using it to show you’re determined and diligent. Both of these are great qualities to showcase in a resume, and they’re bound to get the reader’s attention.

Here are some examples to help you understand it:

• I organize many events under my boss’s guidance. It helps me to understand the intricacies of administrative decisions.
• I organize most of the team projects I take part in. Naturally, I learned a lot and can take that with me.