A client told me recently that she and her team swear by the words of Liz Wiseman. When I saw that Wiseman had written Multipliers with an assist from Greg McKeown, author of the life-changing Essentialism, I figured it was a can’t miss. And I’m happy to report that this one does not disappoint. We’re talking about an interview-heavy, highly readable research book (a mighty achievement!) that doubles as a how-to guide complete with handy charts for business leaders who strive to bring out the best in others. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of working for someone who creates “collective, viral intelligence in organizations,” you know full well what a Multiplier is. But have you ever had a boss who would routinely “deplete the organization of crucial intelligence and capability”? Whether you knew it or not at the time, that clown is known as a Diminisher. Wiseman, a 17-year veteran of the corporate juggernaut called Oracle, surely has seen many of both types come and go. The cynic in you believes there were likely more of the latter and you’re probably correct.
The challenge we face is getting more done with fewer resources. What the authors have discovered in their work is that operational leaders struggle with something called the logic of addition: if our people are overworked, and the very best of them are maxed out, then we need to add more (fill in the blank). But what if most of these people are actually underutilized and under-challenged? The best leaders have proven that intelligence and capability can be multiplied if you identify, test, and work the internal genius. In other words, all the brainpower we need to solve thorny problems and grow our organizations is right there – nay, here! – among us. Simply frame an issue, spark debate, and drive sound decisions. We also need to be willing to “pull some weeds,” meaning to sniff out and eliminate the Diminishers who sap everyone’s energy by always being the smartest person in the room. Rather than creating positive pressure that inspires everyone to rally to a cause, they only create stress, tension, and anxiety. Boo!
Got the picture? Good. Enough of Bozo the Diminisher. Let’s celebrate the stories of some of the best Multipliers who are noted in the book. Henry Kissinger was famous for asking, “Is this your best work?” when staffers would hand him a report they created. (That’s a pretty kick-ass way to tease out quality, no?) If you think it’s easy to print words on Pringles potato chips, well – you’re right, it is but only because one-time Procter & Gamble CEO Alan Lafley tapped into the genius of his global network to discover an Italian professor/equipment manufacturer who had the answer at the ready. Among many others in just over 200 pages, Wiseman contributes one particularly meaningful idea: she presents her mentee with five poker chips, each representing an instance where that manager is allowed to participate in his/her own meeting (each chip is also worth a different amount of time, in 30 second increments, so the manager has to speak up sparingly and wisely). Doing this creates abundant space for others to own their roles and builds a leader’s quiet presence. A thought: let’s load up our executive snack trunks with custom printed Pringles, ones that remind us that oftentimes silence is golden.