?? LEADERS RISE BY RAISING OTHERS: WHY YOUR LEGACY WON’T BE BUILT ALONE

“The best leaders I’ve met have one counterintuitive habit: They’re obsessed with making others look good.”

?? LEADERS RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS

(And No, This Isn’t a “Kumbaya” Moment)

?? THE RELATABLE STORY YOU NEED TO HEAR

A mid-level manager (let’s call him Mark) once told me: “I’m stuck. My team’s performance is mediocre, but I’m working 12-hour days. What am I missing?”

Turns out, Mark was hoarding opportunities—taking credit, micromanaging projects, and treating his team like task robots.

His wake-up call?

A star employee quit and said: “I stayed as long as I did because I liked you. I left because you never let me grow.”

Mark shifted his mindset:

? Stopped solving every problem himself.

? Started asking: “Who on my team could own this?”

? Celebrated their wins louder than his own.

Within 6 months?

?? Team productivity jumped 40%.

?? His promotion to Director came faster than he’d ever imagined.

### ?? WHY LIFTING OTHERS IS YOUR FASTEST PATH UP

Fact: Teams led by “multipliers” (leaders who amplify others) deliver 2x more output than those led by “diminishers” (Harvard Business Review).

Here’s the reality check:

- Your success is measured by successors, not just sales.

- Talent sticks around when they see a path forward.

- Trust accelerates decisions. Ego slows them down.

### ?? 5 PRACTICAL WAYS TO RISE BY RAISING OTHERS

1?? Give Away Your Best Opportunities

(Yes, even the “visibility” ones)

- Example: Let a team member present your idea to executives.

- Why it works: They gain confidence. You gain a reputation as a talent incubator.

?? Try this:

“This project aligns with [Name]’s strengths. I’ll coach them, but they should lead.”

2?? Fix Feedback Forever

Stop: “Good job.”

Start: “What’s one thing I can do to better support you?”

- Fact: Employees who feel heard are 4.6x more likely to perform (Salesforce).

?? Try this:

In your next 1:1, ask: “What’s a skill you want to develop that I’m not noticing?”

3?? Be a Connector, Not a Gatekeeper

Introduce your team to:

- Key stakeholders

- Mentors outside your department

- Learning resources YOU used to grow

Why? Loyalty isn’t built by keeping people dependent on you.

?? Try this:

“I’ll set up a coffee chat between you and [Role Model]. They’ve got insights you’ll love.”

4?? Publicly Credit Others (Especially When You’re Tempted to Shine)

- Bad: “I closed the deal!”

- Better: “Sam’s research on client pain points made this possible.”

Fact: Leaders who share credit get 27% more buy-in for their ideas (Wharton).

5?? Invest in “Unsexy” Growth

Most managers focus on promotions. Wise ones focus on:

- Stretch assignments (*“Can you handle this messy project?”*)

- Soft skills training (Conflict resolution, storytelling)

- Sideways moves that build versatility

?? Try this:

“What’s a role outside our team that interests you? Let’s explore shadowing.”

### ?? FINAL WORD: THIS ISN’T SELF-SACRIFICE. IT’S STRATEGY.

Leaders like Satya Nadella (Microsoft) and Jacinda Ardern didn’t climb by stepping on shoulders. They built ladders.

Your legacy won’t be the deals you closed.

It’ll be the leaders you launched.

LETS EXPLORE FURTHER

1. “Who’s one person who invested in YOU when they didn’t have to? Tag them below ??”

2. “What’s the hardest part about ‘letting go’ of control to lift others up?”

3. “Share a win where someone on your team surprised you—because you got out of their way.”

?? ACTION STEP:

- Like if you’ve seen this work.

- Comment with your answer to Q1/Q2/Q3.

- Repost to pay the advice forward.

“A leader’s job isn’t to create followers. It’s to create more leaders.” — Tom Peters ??