In EO, the ideal number of people for a leader to lead is:

• A. 3 to 5
• B. 6 to 8
• C. 2 to 4
• D. 4 to 6

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is how many people a single supervisor can effectively oversee—the span of control. When a leader has too few direct reports, there’s underutilization of leadership capacity and less opportunity for mentoring and delegation. When there are too many, communication becomes unwieldy, instructions can blur, supervision takes more time than is available, and issues may slip through the cracks. The best balance is a range that allows regular, meaningful interaction, timely feedback, and clear accountability while keeping supervision manageable. In practice, a leader can most effectively supervise about four to six direct reports, which supports close oversight and strong coordination without overwhelming the leader. This is a practical guideline; the exact number can shift based on task complexity, staff experience, and available tools, but four to six is the commonly recommended range.