What I’d do if my team suddenly doubled overnight

If my team doubled overnight…
I’ve lived it.
One day I was leading 8 people. The next, I had 17 direct reports, thanks to a reorg that came with no extra budget, no heads-up, and definitely no onboarding manual.

It wasn’t exciting.
It was overwhelming.

In the past 3 months, I’ve spoken to over 50 tech managers who’ve lived a version of this story.
The details differ. But the spiral is familiar:

→ Team doubles
→ Expectations stay the same
→ You start drowning

If that’s where you are right now, here’s exactly what I’d do instead of panicking:

Step 1: Zoom out before you step in
Your reflex might be to move faster, clear blockers, jump into every Slack thread, save the day.

Pause.

Give yourself 48 hours to think before you sprint:

• What does this team actually need from me now?

• What does success look like in this new chapter?

• What can I let go of?

Then validate your hunches. Talk to your boss. Talk to the team.
The goal isn’t to have all the answers, it’s to lead with intention, not just reaction.

Step 2: Reset expectations, both ways

Your boss needs clarity.
So does your team.

I’d book two conversations right away:

• Upward: “Here’s what’s changed. Here’s how I’m planning to lead. Does this align with what you need?”

• Downward: “Here’s what I know, what I’m still figuring out, and what I’m committed to over the next 30 days.”

This creates psychological safety, trust, and breathing room.

Step 3: Stop doing. Start developing.
If your team grew but everything still runs through you, that’s a bottleneck, not leadership.

The shift I’d make:

• Turn 1:1s into coaching, not check-ins

• Delegate decisions, not just tasks

• Build systems where ownership flows outward

Scaling your to-do list won’t work. Scaling your leadership will.

Here’s the truth:
The managers who rise in moments like these don’t work harder.
They zoom out, reset, and lead differently.

✨ If this sounds like your reality right now...
You’re not alone. And you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it.

➡️ You’ve got this.

– Jeff