Why Smart Leaders Ask More and Tell Less with Liz Wiseman
April 3, 2025
Great leaders don’t just direct—they empower others to excel.
In this episode of Humanity at Scale, host Bruce Temkin speaks with Liz Wiseman, CEO of The Wiseman Group and bestselling author, about the difference between "multiplier" and "diminisher" leadership. They explore how leaders can create high-performance, human-centric workplaces by fostering "intense" rather than "tense" environments, embracing "rookie smarts," and avoiding common habits that unintentionally stifle their teams. Whether you're an executive or an aspiring leader, this conversation offers actionable insights on unlocking potential, driving innovation, and leading with impact in today’s dynamic workplace.
Great leaders don’t just direct—they empower others to excel.
In this episode of Humanity at Scale, host Bruce Temkin speaks with Liz Wiseman, CEO of The Wiseman Group and bestselling author, about the difference between "multiplier" and "diminisher" leadership. They explore how leaders can create high-performance, human-centric workplaces by fostering "intense" rather than "tense" environments, embracing "rookie smarts," and avoiding common habits that unintentionally stifle their teams. Whether you're an executive or an aspiring leader, this conversation offers actionable insights on unlocking potential, driving innovation, and leading with impact in today’s dynamic workplace.
What You will learn:
- How to distinguish between "multiplier" and "diminisher" leadership styles and their impact on team performance
- The critical difference between creating "tense" versus "intense" work environments
- Why being "nice" isn't the same as being an effective multiplier leader
- How to recognize and stop being an "accidental diminisher" through nine common behavior patterns
- The power of "rookie smarts" and why learning beats knowing in today's rapidly changing workplace
- The "extreme question challenge" technique to shift from telling to asking and unlock team potential
- How to create high-performance environments that remain deeply human-centric
- The importance of moving beyond job descriptions to unleash people's full potential
- Why truth-telling and incremental challenge are essential for developing team members
Liz Wiseman is a renowned leadership researcher, executive advisor, and bestselling author. As CEO of The Wiseman Group, a Silicon Valley-based leadership research and development firm, she has worked with top organizations like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla. She authored Multipliers, Rookie Smarts, and Impact Players, offering insights on how great leaders amplify the intelligence of those around them. A Thinkers50 honoree from 2013 to 2023, she also writes for Harvard Business Review and lectures at Stanford and BYU. Previously, she was Vice President of Oracle University, leading global talent development initiatives.
Episode Resources: