There’s a simple truth in leadership that is often overlooked: you are not a leader until you have produced another leader who can, in turn, produce another leader.
It’s easy to mistake leadership for titles, authority, or even influence. You can hold a corner office, lead a project, or inspire a crowd—but if your leadership ends with you, its impact is temporary. True leadership is measured not by the number of followers you have, but by the number of leaders you raise up.
Leadership Is Not About You
The greatest leaders understand that their role is not to build their own spotlight but to create space for others to shine. They don’t hoard opportunities; they open doors. They don’t control the conversation; they give others a voice. They don’t create dependence; they cultivate independence.
Producing Another Leader
This is the first big step. Helping someone grow in confidence, skill, and vision until they are able to lead others on their own. It requires patience, mentoring, and sometimes letting people stumble so they can learn to stand taller. Producing leaders demands humility—because it means your success is no longer measured by your achievements, but by theirs.
Producing Leaders Who Multiply
But the true test comes next: can that leader you developed go on to reproduce the cycle? Leadership that multiplies doesn’t just raise up one generation; it builds a legacy. It creates a chain reaction where the culture of leadership outlives the original leader. That’s when leadership turns into legacy.
The Ripple Effect
Think of it like ripples in water. A leader creates one wave. A leader who produces another leader creates a second ripple. But a leader who produces leaders who can themselves raise more leaders starts a ripple effect that extends far beyond what one person could ever reach. That’s impact.
The Challenge for Us
Ask yourself:
Who am I investing in right now? Who is learning to lead because of me? Will my leadership stop with me, or multiply through others?
Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about being followed—it’s about being reproduced.
You are not truly a leader until you have built a leader who can build another. That’s how legacies are born!
Kenrick Vaz 