Joshua NelsonSeven Figure Agency · Mentor / Coach at Seven Figure Agency

Strong companies limit direct reports to protect leadership quality

Name: Strong companies limit direct reports to protect leadership quality
Uploaded: 2026-03-06T18:01:20+00:00
Duration: 27 s
Channel: Joshua Nelson
Description: In this segment, the speaker advises that any department should keep a manager’s span of control to no more than about eight direct reports. As an…

6 Mar 2026 · 0 min

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In this segment, the speaker advises that any department should keep a manager’s span of control to no more than about eight direct reports. As an account‑management team expands beyond that size, the speaker recommends creating a Director of Account Management. This director’s responsibilities include training the account managers, regularly checking in on their performance, holding them accountable, and serving as an escalation point for dissatisfied clients, thereby preserving leadership quality and client satisfaction.

In any department in your company, you don't want to have more than 8 direct reports. Like, as your account management team grows, let's say you've got 3, 5, 7, 10 account managers, you're going to want to put a director of account management in place. And their main function is to train that team, check in on that team, hold that team accountable, and be the person that the client can go to if they're not happy with their account manager. Be like, hey, I need to talk to somebody else. You've got your director of account management that can step in and have those conversations and solve problems.