You’ve probably heard the phrase:
“We only hire A-players.”
“I’m a 10x developer.”
“That person delivers 10 times the value.”
It sounds impressive, even aspirational.
But what does “10x” really mean—and what does it actually cost us as leaders?
In Episode 13 of Leadership Explored, we dig into one of tech and business’s most persistent—and problematic—myths: the 10x contributor. We trace its origin, break down why it persists, and explore what gets lost when leaders chase individual brilliance instead of building systems where everyone can thrive.
If you’ve ever worked with someone who loudly self-identified as 10x—or quietly watched someone carry a team without fanfare—you’ll feel right at home in this conversation.
🎧 Listen now: www.leadershipexploredpod.com
Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Audible, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
In this episode, we explore:
💥 The real (and flawed) research behind the 10x idea
🤯 Why hero culture creates blind spots in leadership
📉 How outputs often get confused for outcomes—and why that’s dangerous
🧠 Why great teams aren’t made of unicorns, but of trust, clarity, and compounding progress
📈 What to do instead: how to build a 1.1x mindset that actually scales
Why this matters:
Chasing mythical contributors feels like a shortcut—but it rarely delivers. High performance doesn’t come from lone wolves; it comes from shared systems, aligned incentives, and quiet contributors who lift others up.
This episode is for anyone who's tired of managing to vanity metrics… and ready to lead with purpose.
Quote we’re still thinking about:
“If your whole value is ‘I do 10 times more than everyone else’ and none of it’s about elevating the team—is that really 10x, or just 10x the noise?”
– Ed Schaefer
🎙️ Up Next:
Our next episode explores “The Glue Guy”—the often-overlooked teammate who holds it all together. The assist-maker. The connector. The unsung hero. Don’t miss it.
📬 We’d love to hear from you:
Have you worked with someone who claimed to be 10x—or someone who quietly made everything better?
Reply here, connect with us on LinkedIn, or email us at leadershipexplored@gmail.com. We read every message.
If you’re new here:
Leadership Explored is a podcast hosted by Ed Schaefer and Andy Siegmund. We explore what it means to lead in today’s evolving workplace—with honesty, practical insight, and a few hard-won lessons. Subscribe to never miss an episode.