Everything else? That’s operations—the nuts & bolts of what you deliver to your customers.
If you’re sitting with 10+ people at your Leadership Team table, you’ve either got duplicates (two leaders doing the same function) or you’ve confused operations with leadership.
🐘 Are you avoiding tough conversations?
If you have more than six people on your Leadership Team, ask yourself: Are you just afraid to make the hard calls?
It’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? Telling someone they’re not at a leadership level can feel personal.
But it’s not. It’s about what the business needs to succeed.
I recently worked with a business (Company X, a mid-sized manufacturer) whose Leadership Team had ballooned to 11 people. Meetings were long, decisions dragged on, & everyone left frustrated.
Why? Because half the room didn’t need to be there.
Here’s what we did:
- Mapped the main functions using the Rule of 5.
- Made tough calls: We shifted operational leaders back to their functional roles, where they excelled.
- Focused the team: The new Leadership Team of six focused on strategy, goals, & moving the needle.
The result?
- Meetings became tighter & more productive.
- Decisions happened faster.
- Operations leaders felt empowered to deliver results to their teams without feeling like they ‘weren’t in the room’.
What is the purpose of a Leadership Team?
In EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), the purpose of a Leadership Team is crystal clear:
- Align the organisation: Everyone is working towards the same goals.
- Drive the company: Focusing on what will move the business forward.
- Consider the greater good: The organisation comes first, not your own team or agenda.
- Make decisions & overcome challenges: Quickly & as a team.
- Share values: They lead by example, living the company’s core values.
Why the Rule of 5 works?
The Rule of 5 ensures your Leadership Team remains lean, strategic, & effective.
When you keep it to those 5-6 key roles, you:
- Eliminate unnecessary voices that slow decision-making.
- Focus on the big picture instead of day-to-day operations.
- Empower functional leaders to own their areas without ‘checking in’ at the top table.
Another real-life example:
I worked with Team Y (a professional services business) whose Leadership Team had grown far too big. Everyone wanted a seat at the table. But by applying the Rule of 5 & redefining leadership vs. operations, the impact was immediate:
- The Leadership Team broke through a growth ceiling.
- Meetings became high-energy, strategic, & focused.
- Operational leaders thrived—they finally owned their roles without feeling like they’d been demoted.
It’s time to stop running in circles.
If you’ve got a bloated Leadership Team, it’s time to trim it back & get laser-focused on what matters.
Remember: Leadership is about leading—not reporting.
Keep it to 5-6 key roles, have the tough conversations, & watch the magic happen.
If this feels like you… let’s chat. Tough conversations are my jam.
#EOSImplementer #Leadership #BetterBusinessBetterLife
