Leaders, Stop Draining Your Team: Be a Multiplier, Not a Diminisher

Liz Wiseman’s Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter is my all-time favorite book to recommend that every leader reads. But leaders are busy, so here's my quick TLDR summary for those of you who can spare the three minutes to take a quick glance.

Multipliers calls out two types of leaders in the business world: Multipliers and Diminishers. And let’s be clear—if you’re not a Multiplier, you’re holding your team back. Wiseman’s message is simple: good leaders don’t just manage people; they multiply their intelligence and capabilities, unlocking everyone’s potential. Bad leaders? They drain the energy out of their teams and turn smart people into average performers.

Wiseman defines a Multiplier as someone who “gets more from their people by amplifying their intelligence.” In contrast, a Diminisher “creates a lack of confidence, underutilizes their team, and ultimately diminishes the talent around them.”

Here’s how it breaks down:

Multipliers Multiply Intelligence  

Multipliers inspire and push their teams to go above and beyond. They don’t just assign tasks—they challenge people to think bigger. They lead with confidence, but without the need to be the smartest person in the room. In fact, they thrive on surrounding themselves with smart, capable people. 

As Wiseman puts it, “Multipliers invoke each person’s unique intelligence and create an atmosphere of genius—innovation, productive effort, and collective intelligence.”

Multipliers empower their teams, allowing individuals to own their roles, make decisions, and drive results. They act as Talent Magnets, pulling in the best people and giving them room to shine. Multipliers are Challengers—they stretch their teams, offering tough challenges but providing support to get there. They believe in their people’s potential and invest time in developing them.

Diminishers Drain the Room  

Diminishers, on the other hand, are the black holes of leadership. They micromanage, hoard decisions, and make sure everyone knows who’s boss. Their leadership style screams: “I’m the smartest one here, and I’ll tell you exactly what to do.” Diminishers create a culture of dependency where team members feel stuck and underutilized.

As Wiseman explains, “Diminishers believe that really intelligent people are a rare breed. They tend to think that people will never figure things out without them, and this belief manifests in behaviors that stunt the growth of their team.”

They kill innovation and creativity, leaving their teams disengaged and burnt out.

The Multiplier Effect

One of the most powerful takeaways from Multipliers is the “Multiplier Effect”—the idea that great leaders can get double the output from their teams, without burning them out. Multipliers aren’t about adding more tasks to people’s plates; they’re about getting people to perform at their highest level. They tap into dormant potential, creating an environment where people are energized and driven to excel.

Final Thoughts: Ditch the Ego

Wiseman doesn’t sugarcoat it. If you’re a Diminisher, you’re the bottleneck. Stop clinging to the need to be the smartest one in the room. Empower your people, give them space to succeed, and get out of their way. It’s time to lead like a Multiplier—unlock the full potential of your team, and watch them deliver results beyond what you thought possible.

“Leaders who are Multipliers use their intelligence to amplify the smarts and capabilities of the people around them.”

That’s the kind of leadership that drives growth, innovation, and sustained success.