🎧 10x: Rethinking Performance, Output & Impact — Why Lone Genius Culture Is Hurting Your Team
You’ve heard it before:
“We only hire 10x engineers.”
“I’m a 10x performer.”
“We’re looking for rockstars, unicorns, ninjas.”
It’s one of the most persistent (and seductive) myths in business and tech:
The idea that one magical hire can deliver the output of ten.
But here’s the problem no one talks about…
Chasing 10x individuals often leads to ego-driven cultures, team burnout, performance blind spots, and—ironically—worse outcomes.
In our latest episode of Leadership Explored, we dig deep into this myth and explore a better way forward.
🎙 What we cover in Episode 13:
– The surprising origin of the 10x concept (and what the original study actually said)
– How “hero culture” distracts from building sustainable team environments
– The difference between outputs and outcomes — and why it matters
– What performance really looks like at different stages of a career
– The 1.1x mindset: how small, consistent improvements outperform mythical brilliance
– A better definition of high performance: impact, not volume
Key Idea:
👉 If your value is “I do 10x more,” but you don’t elevate the people around you… is that really 10x? Or just 10x the noise?
We think the best leaders aren’t looking for unicorns.
They’re building environments where regular people can do exceptional things—together.
Our Challenge to You:
Look at how your team defines success.
Are you measuring speed, volume, and visibility?
Or are you rewarding trust, clarity, and outcomes?
Now ask yourself this:
Are you trying to find a 10x person… or build a 10x team?
🎧 Listen now:
Episode 13 – 10x: Rethinking Performance, Output & Impact
Available at leadershipexploredpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Audible, Substack).
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We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment, reply, or share your story.
Have you ever worked with a “10x” personality? Did they lift the team—or overshadow it?
Thanks for exploring leadership with us.
Until next time, lead with purpose.
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Ed & Andy
Leadership Explored