Leading Others: 5 Disciplines to Multiply the Genius Around You and Avoid Becoming a Diminisher!

Liz Wiseman, the author of the insightful book Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, says that there are two types of leaders. The first type drains intelligence, energy, and capability from the people around them. They always need to be the smartest person in the room. Then there is the second type of leader: the multiplier. Multipliers lead by using their intelligence to amplify the capabilities of the people around them. When these leaders walk into a room, light bulbs go off over people’s heads, ideas flow, and problems get solved.

Multiplier vs. Diminisher

When we become a leader, we are motivated and hoped to be a multiplier. However, we can unintentionally become a diminisher if we’re not intentional about our drivers. When I heard Wiseman speaking at a conference ten years ago, I had an “aha” moment when I realized that I was an accidental diminisher. I was leading an employee who was capable and smart, but I tried to protect and save her from challenging situations. When I rescued her, she didn’t get the opportunity to solve problems herself and learn from her experiences. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, my job as a leader was to be a coach and a supporter. Since that realization, I learned to invest in her growth instead of jumping to rescue her from situations, and she began to thrive, and today she's a great leader in her profession.

It takes intentionality to be an effective leader. Sometimes, that intentionality is about knowing our blind spots and making sure we don't become that accidental diminisher. Use the below checklist, illustrating the five disciplines of a multiplier to do a self-check.

Are you a multiplier or a diminisher? Join the Leader Momentum movement to learn more about how servant leadership is the ultimate way to multiply! Learn more at www.leader-momentum.com.

If you are not on our mailing list yet, sign up to join the Leader Momentum movement with us: