Episode 74

full
Published on:

24th Feb 2026

074. High Performers Multiply People (Not Just Results)

Are you known for your output… or for what happens to other people when you’re in the room?

Most people define high performers by their output: discipline, drive, execution, results. But over time, the true difference between high performers isn’t how much they accomplish. It’s what happens to other people around them.

In this episode, James challenges high performers directly: your strength either expands others or shrinks them. If your presence consistently improves the work but diminishes initiative, you are impressive, but you are not multiplying.

Real leadership begins when your strength creates more strength.

Common belief:

High performance is about doing more, moving faster, and raising the bar personally.

Truer view:

High performance matures when your strength causes other people to grow, not just comply.

This Episode Is For:

  1. High performers who carry more than most
  2. Individuals frustrated by mediocrity but unsure how to respond
  3. Quiet drivers who want responsibility, not recognition
  4. Leaders who sense their next level is influence, not output

In This Episode:

  1. The incomplete definition of high performance
  2. The difference between impressive and multiplying
  3. How strength can unintentionally shrink others
  4. Why becoming indispensable can limit growth
  5. The shift from producing results to producing producers

Reflection Question

When you leave a room, are people stronger because of you, or more dependent on you?

Show artwork for Leadership in 5

About the Podcast

Leadership in 5
Lead better in 5 minutes. Tactical insights for founders who want clarity, momentum, and a business that doesn’t break them.
Execution without excuses. Five minutes. One insight. No wasted words.

Leadership In 5 is the podcast for founders and executives who are done with vague advice and tired of hearing “just communicate better” like it’s a strategy.

I’m James Mayhew. I’ve served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and made the thousand-plus execution mistakes so you don’t have to. I work with high-growth companies that are scaling fast — but who still want to lead with values, not ego.

Each episode delivers one sharp insight you can act on. You’ll hear practical guidance built on clarity, not charisma. No theory. No fluff. Just real leadership tools that work in real companies with real people.

This show exists to help you stop over-functioning, stop repeating yourself, and stop holding it all together just to keep the wheels turning. You deserve a business that works without breaking you.

The show is grounded in The IDP Way, a leadership system built on Integrity, Dignity, and Prosperity. If those words resonate, you’ll feel at home here. And if they challenge you? Even better. Growth starts with honesty.

Want a free companion to the show?
Download "99+ Questions That Create Clarity" at NextQuestionGuide.com
It’s the simplest tool I know to start shifting your team from confused to confident.

Thanks for listening... and for leading.

About your host

Profile picture for James Mayhew

James Mayhew

James R. Mayhew is a leadership coach and strategic advisor to founders and executives building fast-growth, values-driven companies. He created the IDP Way, a leadership system grounded in integrity, dignity, and prosperity. James helps leaders align people, purpose, and performance so their business can scale with clarity, not chaos.

He’s served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and built execution systems that actually work.