Book Review: Multipliers – How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

I read this interesting and enriching book by Liz Wiseman written along with management consultant Greg McKeown. Liz spent almost 17 years with Oracle Corporation in senior management role. Greg is a partner at The Wiseman Group and is a MBA from Stanford University.

Those of us who are employed have to deal with three levels of people at all times. At the top are the superiors, in the middle or same level are the peers and at the bottom are the subordinates. The same person who delivers extra-ordinary results under one leadership completely falters under another leader. A doubt may arise as to why and how the same individual performed differently under two different leaders though the task remained the same. This book addresses such doubts.

The authors have done an extensive research of around 150 top-notch executives around the world to understand the different styles of leadership and address the issue of varied performance. Based on their findings from the survey, they categorized leadership into two, one that of a Diminisher and the other that of a Multiplier.

Diminishers are the ones who think that there are very few smart people and that people cannot figure out things in their absence. In their presence, the employees feel stifled and stressed, with the result, Diminishers get only 20-50 percent of their employee’s capability.

On the other hand, Multipliers think that their organization is full of intelligent and creative people and that they can figure out solutions for every problem or a situation. In their presence the employees see their creative juices flowing and feel relaxed at all times, with the result, Multipliers get 100-120 percent or in some cases 2X of their employee’s capability.

The book gives 5 disciplines of the Multipliers which are worth reading again and again. They are

1.   The Talent Magent – Attracts talented people and uses them at their highest point of contribution.

2.   The Liberator – Creates an intense environment that requires people’s best thinking and work.

3.   The Challenger – Defines an opportunity that causes people to stretch.

4.   The Debate Maker – Drives sound decisions through rigorous debate.

5.   The Investor – Gives other people the ownership for results and invests in their success.

Against each of the above disciplines, the authors have nicely elucidated the various practices followed by the Multipliers while at the same time mentioning the way how Diminishers approached work in contrast to the above 5 disciplines.

As the Talent Magnet, a Multiplier 1) looks for talent everywhere 2) finds People’s native genius 3) utilizes people to the fullest 4) removes the blockers.

As the Liberator, a Multiplier 1) creates space 2) demands best work and 3) generates rapid learning cycles.

As the Challenger, a Multiplier 1) seeds the opportunity 2) lays down a challenge and 3) generates belief in what is possible

As the Debate Maker, a Multiplier 1) frames the issue 2) sparks the debate and 3) drives a sound decision

As the Investor, a Multiplier 1) defines ownership 2) invests resources and 3) holds people accountable.

The contents of this book are based on research findings and so the above disciplines and practices are not theoretical but completely practical. The good news is that book elaborates on how one can become a Multiplier or how a Diminisher can change to become a Multiplier. The contents are so well presented that it can be read and understood with ease even by non-practicing managers/leaders.

The book also highlights the growing influence of Indians in the international management circuit as there are a few Indian names that found mention, like Infosys’s N.R.Narayana Murthy, Ela Bhatt of SEWA and K.R.Sridhar, CEO of Bloom Energy in Silicon Valley.

The book is worth reading not only by practicing managers but also every individual who wants to bring about a positive change in his/her life and also that of the others associated with him/her. No wonder the foreword for the book is given by the most celebrated writer Stephen R Covey. The book is published by Harper Collins.

Last word - A word of caution - Please do not gift this book to your boss if you want to keep your job.