Flattening an organization sounds appealing: fewer management layers, lower costs, faster decisions, greater autonomy, and less bureaucracy. But what happens when the leaders who remain suddenly inherit a much heavier leadership load?

In this episode of LeadershipSOPs, Ed Tyson examines “The Great Flattening,” the growing organizational trend of eliminating management layers and expanding spans of control. While flattening can create real value, Ed challenges leaders to look beyond headcount and organizational charts before deciding which management roles are truly unnecessary.

Ed breaks down six critical leadership accountabilities: governance, coordination, integration, quality, performance, and stewardship. He explains why two managers with the same number of direct reports can carry dramatically different leadership workloads depending on the complexity, risk, interdependence, expertise, and demands of their teams.

He also challenges the idea that there is a universal “right” number of direct reports. Instead, organizations should determine how much leadership work actually needs to be done, how much capacity a manager has, and whether the next leader up can realistically absorb those responsibilities if a management layer disappears.

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For more leadership insights, resources, and ways to connect with Ed Tyson, visit:

Website: https://askedtyson.com

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