Yes, I said it. Eight to ten people on your leadership team?
That’s not just pushing the limits – that’s a fast track to slow decisions, fuzzy accountability & meetings that suck the life out of your week.
Better Business, Better Life – Issue 166
BUSINESS TOOLS & REAL-LIFE LESSONS
8-10 People on a Leadership Team??? WTF?
EOS is clear:
- Ideal size: 5–7 people
- Maximum recommended: 8 people
Beyond that, it’s not really a leadership team anymore – it’s a crowd.
Why too many leaders is a problem
1. Sluggish decisions
Every voice matters, but with 8–10 people in the room, every issue drags. Decisions take longer, tangents multiply & energy drops fast.
2. Fuzzy accountability
With that many people, responsibilities blur. Everyone owns everything, which means no one truly owns anything.
3. Loss of focus
Leadership teams exist to set vision, make key decisions & remove roadblocks – not debate every operational detail. The bigger the team, the harder it is to stay in that lane.
4. Analogy time
It’s like trying to drive a car with 10 people all grabbing at the steering wheel. Sure, everyone wants to help steer, but the end result? You zig-zag all over the road & get nowhere fast.
Real-life example
I worked with a business that had 10 department heads on their “leadership team”. Their meetings dragged, decisions stalled & issues came back week after week.
We restructured their Accountability Chart, creating departmental leadership teams & reducing the main leadership team to seven.
The difference was night & day:
- Meetings dropped back to 90 minutes
- Decisions stuck
- Accountability actually meant something
The result? Productivity shot up, frustration went down & the team finally started working on the business, not drowning in it.
My take?
Seven is the sweet spot.
Eight is an exception.
Ten? That’s not a leadership team – that’s a talkfest.
If your team feels bloated or bogged down, the answer isn’t more meetings – it’s clarity on who really belongs at the leadership table.
What makes a great leadership team?
- Right size: 5–7 core leaders (max 8)
- Right people: Functional leaders who think company-wide, not just about their department
- Clear accountability: Everyone owns their lane, no overlaps, no gaps
- Shared vision: Aligned on where you’re going & how you’ll get there
- Healthy team dynamic: Trust, openness & willingness to call out issues
Need help building a high-performing leadership team?
Email me at debra@businessaction.com.au & let’s make it happen.
LINKS TO USEFUL STUFF
This section gives you quick access to 3 links - to articles, blogs, podcasts & stuff that will help you to create a better business & lead a better life.
Better Business and Life Resources
Article
Make The Most of Leadership Team Meetings
Boost results through focused leadership team meetings.
Podcast
Engineering High-Performing Teams with EOS
Engineer team success with proven EOS-driven strategies.
Life Stuff
How to Spend Quality Time with Your Family
Prioritise meaningful moments with your loved ones.
We are here to help you live a better life by creating a better business. We are real-life business owners with years of experience & a strong desire to make a huge difference to the lives of entrepreneurs.
If anything here resonates with you or you would like our help, then please get in contact. Just reply to this newsletter & let us know who you would like to speak to…. Or visit our webpage & contact any of our team from their own pages.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading this, then please forward it onto them. 💖
NEED HELP?
If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator