Prakash Nairr’s Post

Leading at scale without losing touch... As your team grows, so does the distance. Not because you care any less, but because the leadership terrain changes. What used to be easy, grabbing coffee with a team member, giving real-time praise, catching a concern in someone’s tone—starts getting harder to do at scale. Suddenly: - Some team members feel unseen. - Feedback loops break down. - Relationships shift from intentional to transactional. And yet the best leaders don’t retreat into the strategy tower. They ask: “How do I lead a large team without losing personal connection?” Here’s the truth: You can’t have deep one-on-one relationships with 100+ people. But you can design systems that make people feel seen, supported, and guided, even when you’re not directly involved. Think of it like a campfire. When your team is small, everyone sits around the same fire, sharing warmth and stories. But as the group grows, you don’t build a bonfire so big that it burns out of control. You build many fires—led by others who carry your warmth, your values, your tone. That’s how you scale presence. Here are 3 ways to do it: 1. Make space for real conversations—not just updates Small group connects, informal virtual coffees, or skip-level check-ins can reignite that sense of belonging. 2. Teach your direct reports to lead like you would Coach them to lead with empathy, clarity, and consistency. When they do, your leadership ripples across the team even when you’re not in the room. 3. Use light-touch tools to stay emotionally in tune Monthly pulse surveys, anonymous feedback forms, or simple “How are you doing?” prompts can surface what’s often hidden. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, scaled personal connection in a 200,000+ person organization not by trying to speak to everyone but by changing how everyone speaks. - He embedded empathy into Microsoft's culture through leadership development, storytelling, and consistent language from the top. - His leadership showed up in how others led because he intentionally shaped the system, not just the message. Leading at scale doesn’t mean leading from a distance. It means multiplying your presence—through people, culture, and systems. What’s one system or ritual that helped you stay close to your growing team?