Speaking for myself only; Managing more than a hand-full of people you know very well is a horror.

I used to manage 60+ people in 2 direct response layers, and an open door policy.

Turns out that once you allow people to see you as a friend more than a “boss” you make yourself vulnerable to be abused and hurt (happened to me), so I made a conscious decision to become a one man show and started freelancing (Yeeey!)

Now, Im back in a full time company position, and if we grow further it will easily happen that I will have again a team to manage… I am not sure that that is what I want to do with my time though, or rather, I will, if it happens keep business to business and private to private from now on.