Leaders need more than technical skills. They must be able to communicate clearly, confidently, and persuasively. One powerful way to achieve this is by mastering advanced phrasal verbs for leadership. These dynamic combinations of verbs and prepositions not only make your English sound more natural but also allow you to express complex ideas with precision.
Whether you’re leading a project meeting, negotiating a partnership, or inspiring an international team, the right phrasal verbs can help you engage your audience and get your point across effectively.
If you’ve ever been in a meeting where someone used a phrase you didn’t quite understand — and you felt too embarrassed to ask — you’re not alone. Many young professionals, especially those learning English as a second language, have been there. The good news? You don’t need to know every expression before stepping into leadership. But the more tools you have, the more confident and influential you’ll become.
In this post, we’ll explore 10 advanced phrasal verbs for leadership, explain their meanings, and show you how to use them with real-world examples. Plus, we’ll share how students at Cumorah Academy use these expressions daily as they develop leadership skills in an international environment.
Understanding Phrasal Verbs — and Why Leaders Need Them
A phrasal verb is a combination of a main verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that together create a meaning different from the original verb.
For example:
- “Look” simply means to see something.
- “Look into” means to investigate thoroughly.
They’re common in both everyday conversation and professional settings, and they pop up everywhere:
- Movie titles: The Empire Strikes Back, Cast Away
- Song titles: Get Up, Stand Up (Bob Marley), Roll Over Beethoven (The Beatles)
By learning and practicing advanced phrasal verbs, leaders can speak with more nuance, sound more natural, and build stronger connections across cultures, a key skill in international work environments like Cumorah Academy.
1. Look into – Investigate Thoroughly Before Acting
When you look into something, you examine it in detail before making a decision.
- We need to look into the feasibility of expanding our business into new markets.
- Before launching the project, the manager will look into possible risks.
Leadership Insight: Use this when talking about due diligence, research, or evaluation. Leaders who look into matters before acting show that they make informed, responsible decisions.
At Cumorah Academy, students learn to look into every aspect of a project before implementation — whether it’s organizing an event or launching a community service initiative.
2. Follow up – Ensure Progress and Accountability
To follow up means to reconnect with someone or check on progress after an initial discussion.
- I’ll follow up with the client tomorrow to confirm the details.
- Don’t forget to follow up on the budget report before the meeting.
Leadership Insight: Following up shows you care about results and accountability — both essential for effective leadership.
In Cumorah Academy’s collaborative projects, students regularly follow up with teammates to make sure deadlines are met and tasks are completed.
3. Come up with – Generate New Ideas and Solutions
When you come up with something, you create or suggest a new plan, idea, or solution.
- Our marketing team needs to come up with a fresh campaign idea.
- She came up with a new approach to reduce production costs.
Leadership Insight: Leaders inspire innovation. Encourage your team to come up with new ideas to solve challenges creatively.
At Cumorah Academy, brainstorming sessions help students come up with innovative strategies for real-world problems.
4. Go over – Review and Refine for Excellence
To go over something is to examine or discuss it carefully to ensure quality and clarity.
- Let’s go over the presentation slides before the conference.
- We should go over the contract terms with the legal team.
Leadership Insight: Leaders who go over plans before execution avoid costly mistakes and ensure alignment.
Before presenting their semester projects, students go over their proposals with mentors, refining every detail for maximum impact.
5. Point out – Draw Attention to Key Details
When you point out something, you highlight information that others should notice.
- I’d like to point out that our sales have doubled since last year.
- She pointed out a potential flaw in the new strategy.
Leadership Insight: Pointing out important facts helps guide discussions and decision-making.
In Cumorah’s leadership workshops, students learn to point out both strengths and areas for improvement in group projects.
6. Break down – Simplify Complex Information
To break down something means to make it easier to understand by explaining it step-by-step.
- Can you break down the financial report for the interns?
- He broke down the project plan into weekly tasks.
Leadership Insight: Breaking down complex concepts ensures your whole team is on the same page, regardless of their background or experience.
Mentorship at Cumorah often involves breaking down leadership principles into practical steps students can apply immediately.
7. Turn down – Decline Respectfully
When you turn down something, you reject it politely.
- We had to turn down the partnership because it didn’t align with our mission.
- She turned down the job offer to focus on her own business.
Leadership Insight: Leaders must sometimes say “no” to stay focused on their vision. The key is doing it respectfully.
Students at Cumorah learn to turn down opportunities that don’t fit their personal or organizational goals, even if they seem attractive on the surface.
8. Hammer out – Negotiate Until Agreement
To hammer out something is to work hard to resolve details and reach a consensus.
- The leaders spent hours hammering out the terms of the contract.
- We need to hammer out a schedule that works for both teams.
Leadership Insight: Successful leaders invest time in collaboration and compromise to achieve shared goals.
Students often hammer out details with classmates from different cultures, developing skills in diplomacy and teamwork.
9. Roll out – Launch Something New Successfully
When you roll out something, you introduce it to the public or your team.
- The company will roll out its new app next month.
- We’re rolling out a new employee training program.
Leadership Insight: Rolling out initiatives with preparation and enthusiasm sets the tone for adoption and success.
From cultural nights to service projects, our students roll out events that bring people together and create lasting impact.
10. Catch on – Gain Popularity or Understanding
To catch on means to become popular or for people to start understanding something.
- The new workflow quickly caught on among the staff.
- Her innovative idea caught on and became the industry standard.
Leadership Insight: Leaders can help good ideas catch on by promoting them effectively and leading by example.
At Cumorah, creative project ideas often catch on quickly because students work in an environment that fosters enthusiasm and collaboration.
How to Master These Advanced Phrasal Verbs for Leadership
The secret is consistent, intentional practice:
- Write them down and review them regularly.
- Create your own sentences to make them personal.
- Listen and observe — watch leadership talks, read business articles, and note how often these phrases appear.
- Use them in context — the more you apply them in real situations, the faster they’ll stick.
At Cumorah Academy, students don’t just study English — they live it. They practice leadership, communication, and teamwork daily, using phrasal verbs like these in meetings, projects, and cultural exchanges. The result? Confidence, fluency, and the skills to lead in an international environment.
If you’re ready to boost your professional English and gain hands-on leadership experience, Cumorah Academy is the perfect place to start.
Ready to achieve more? Apply for one semester and see your life change for the better.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
