Does being an empowering leader actually make a difference in your team? Let’s find out.
Have you ever wondered how some leaders seem to effortlessly bring out the best in their teams, while others struggle to keep their teams intact?
According to Gallup, “Employees who are fully confident in reaching their goals are twice as likely to be engaged. They are also 27% less likely to struggle with burnout and 38% less likely to be looking or watching for job opportunities.”
Leaders play a critical role in those statistics; positively or negatively. You have experienced this, I bet… You may be working under an empowering leader now who is a supportive multiplier (🎉) or a stifling one who is a demoralizing diminisher (☹️).
What is the difference?
the Diminisher
Diminishers are leaders who, often unintentionally and with little awareness, drain the energy from their teams. They focus on limitations rather than the abilities of their team and tend to shut down forward-looking discussions before they gain any traction. Intentional or not, the diminisher’s approach demonstrates a lack of trust, a need for control, and a fear of sharing accomplishments.
The result? Teams disengage and struggle to grow their skills. Apathy becomes the norm, which is a comfortable place for diminishers but suffocating for their potential-filled subordinates. Eventually, the diminisher becomes frustrated and withdraws too, pointing the blame at their team members for how they feel.
Leaders who are diminishers have a tough time acknowledging strengths in their team members, often negating what could be a positive statement by ending it with a “But….” They talk much more than they listen, must be the one with all the answers, and effectively stifle open communication amongst their teams.
The Multiplier
Multipliers, on the other hand, intentionally uplift others. These empowering leaders believe their team members are capable and empower them to develop and grow in capacity and authority. They say things like, “We can do this” and “I’m confident you can handle this”. They look for what is going right and ways to build upon collective strengths.
Leaders who are multipliers do just that – they help multiply successes through their expressed confidence, appreciation, and support of individuals and entire teams. People gravitate to multipliers and enjoy working with them.
Multipliers are active members of the team whether they lead it or not and are proud of what the team accomplishes together. Multipliers bring out the best in others, in part because of their belief in others. Their energy pours into opening-up possibilities and nurturing a culture where all can thrive.
Not sure where you fall between Multiplier and Diminisher?
You may lean toward diminisher if: (Warning! This takes honest reflection.)
- Your go-to response to suggestions and ideas is to point out why they won’t work before they have a chance to be discussed and explored.
If your first instinct is to point out why something won’t work instead of letting ideas breathe, you might be diminishing your team’s communication and creativity. Diminishers focus on potential problems rather than possibilities, and end innovation before it even begins.
- In meetings with your team, you do most of the talking.
Diminishers tend to dominate conversations, leaving little room for others to share their thoughts or contribute. When team members don’t feel heard, they eventually stop trying. If your team doesn’t ask many questions or offer contributions to your meeting topics, you may be a diminisher.
- You don’t trust your team members to make effective decisions.
If you find yourself micromanaging or second-guessing your team’s decisions, it’s a sign you don’t trust them. This lack of trust does not go unnoticed. It can significantly lower morale and keep your plate over-loaded as you “handle” things that could (and should) be handled at a lower level.
Regardless of where you currently sit on the multiplier – diminisher stick, everyone can strengthen their multiplier muscles. You can become an empowering leader no matter your starting point. You don’t have to be a “natural-born multiplier” or have a certain personality or leadership style. Developing multiplier attributes is about first recognizing you might be a bit of a diminisher, then deciding what could be gained by becoming more of a multiplier.
My diminishers out there may be thinking “So you want me to make everyone else feel good, what’s in it for me?” That’s easy! Less stress, more time, and better results!
With intention, practice, and resilience, even the staunchest diminisher can transform into a multiplier and empowering leader. But how?
Five Steps to Strengthen Your Multiplier Muscles:
- Smile more. A positive attitude is contagious. Walk into the room, look everyone in the eye, smile, and acknowledge them. Even virtually, the whole “room” responds to a friendly demeanor.
- Acknowledge what’s going right. Look for what people do well in daily operations and tell them what you notice and appreciate. Maybe it’s big and high impact; maybe it’s simple but taken for granted. The “size” does not matter if you are sincere and specific. Your humble acknowledgment of others gives them a boost to “do it again” and even better next time.
- Ask more questions and give fewer directive answers. Automatically providing answers hamstrings you and your team members. Ask their thoughts and ideas before sharing yours. It’s amazing what “If you did know, what would it be?” can do for a person stuck in an issue. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime…
- Celebrate the small wins. Recognizing progress toward goals, no matter how minor, builds momentum to achieve the next one and fosters a culture of positivity.
- Lead with optimism. Speak words that build confidence and a “can do” spirit; show your team you are with them through challenges and successes; and affirm you have confidence in what they can do as individuals and as a team.
The Choice Is Yours
Becoming an empowering leader who is a multiplier isn’t “soft” or “touchy feel-y”, and it doesn’t make you “less than” anyone else. It’s not about being an introvert or an extrovert, and it’s definitely not about not speaking the truth. Those are excuses hard-core diminishers use to justify behaviors that aren’t working and resist making changes.
Strengthening your multiplier muscles can be transformational for you, your team members, and all your results. Multipliers are less stressed and achieve more because they facilitate the growth and empowerment of others. They are seen as positive, yes. But this positivity is not artificial, it is rooted in their ability to value, respect, and build trust in and with others.
So, now the choice is yours. Will you be the multiplier leader of a fully engaged team that is resilient in the face of challenges, and comes to work every day because they want to? Or will you be the diminisher who holds them back, burns them out, and makes it easy for them to leave?
We are betting on you as the multiplier! Take small steps. Decide, be intentional, practice, and acknowledge it every time you act in a way that is more multiplier and less diminisher. You’ve got this!