How the Smartest Leaders Bring Out Brilliance in Others

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Stop Being the Genius Start Creating Them

In most organizations, intelligence isn’t the limiting factor—leadership is. Multipliers by Liz Wiseman flips the traditional leadership script. It asks a bold question: Do you make the people around you smarter, or do you unintentionally hold them back?

Wiseman introduces two kinds of leaders:

• Multipliers, who amplify the intelligence and capability of everyone they lead.
• Diminishers, who—even with good intentions—drain energy, creativity, and growth from their teams.

Through research across business, education, and government, she reveals that great leaders don’t hoard intelligence. Instead, they stretch people’s thinking, challenge assumptions, and create environments where talent thrives at scale.

In a world where adaptability, problem-solving, and collaboration define success, Multipliers offers a playbook for leaders who want to build unstoppable teams—not just compliant ones.

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Top 10 Leadership Lessons from Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

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1. The Best Leaders Aren’t the Smartest in the Room—They Make the Room Smarter

Multipliers don’t try to be the hero. They empower others to step up, contribute, and grow. They believe talent is everywhere—and their job is to unlock it. In 2025, this is non-negotiable for founders, creators, and managers building lean, high-performing teams.

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2. Challenge People, Don’t Rescue Them

Diminishers often step in too soon, solving problems themselves. Multipliers resist the urge to “rescue” and instead push others to stretch their thinking. Great leaders don’t give easy answers—they ask better questions.

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3. Use Pressure to Spark Growth, Not Fear

Multipliers create environments where high expectations are paired with safety. They demand excellence without micromanaging. This pressure motivates, not crushes—especially vital for remote and hybrid teams navigating uncertainty.

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4. Give Ownership, Not Just Tasks

Instead of delegating to-do lists, Multipliers hand over real responsibility. They trust people to figure things out and own outcomes. In today’s fast-moving digital economy, autonomy builds loyalty and innovation.

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5. Recognize Invisible Talent

Multipliers are talent magnets. They don’t just hire well—they spot potential in overlooked people and pull it forward. Whether in scrappy startups or large teams, identifying and developing quiet contributors is a superpower.

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6. Learn to Lead Without Having All the Answers

You don’t need to be the subject-matter expert to lead effectively. Multipliers lead by facilitating dialogue, surfacing ideas, and empowering decisions. In a knowledge economy, humility scales better than ego.

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7. Turn Mistakes Into Learning Moments

Multipliers don’t punish failure—they mine it. They turn missteps into shared lessons that improve systems, not shame individuals. This creates a culture of continuous improvement, not fear.

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8. Ask Bigger Questions, Not Just Faster Ones

Instead of pushing for quick results, Multipliers slow down to ask deeper, high-leverage questions. This encourages long-term thinking, more thoughtful execution, and bigger innovation over time.

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9. Silence Your Inner Diminisher

Even well-meaning leaders can slip into Diminisher behaviors—interrupting, over-correcting, or hoarding decisions. Wiseman teaches self-awareness techniques to recognize and replace these habits with empowering alternatives.

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10. Leadership Isn’t a Spotlight—It’s a Mirror

Multipliers don’t crave attention—they reflect it. They shine the spotlight on others, celebrating wins and redirecting credit. This not only boosts morale but attracts high performers who want to grow under that kind of leadership.

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Multipliers is more than a leadership framework—it’s a mindset shift. In a world where productivity is tied to people, and creativity scales your competitive edge, your ability to amplify others is your most valuable skill.